Flashcards
Observations
Cards in this deck (21)
- 1What are the 6 different types of observations?1. Covert
2.Overt
3. Unstructured
4. Structured
5. Non-participants
6. Participants - 2Definitions of covert observationsThe researcher is undercover, subjects do no know they are being studied. Researcher would need to share similar characteristics in order to gain access. Covert role is likely to be adopted where criminals or deviant activity is involved
- 3Definition of an overt observationsThe subjects are aware they are being observed or studied. They know the researchers identity and purpose. The researcher can openly as questions, avoid illegal activity and does not need to worry about blowing a cover. It is more ethical as there is no deception.
- 4Definition of unstructured observationThe researcher records all of the behaviour that they witness, no schedule is used.
- 5Definition of structured observationAn observation schedule is used so that a researcher can record specific behaviour they wish to observe
- 6Definition of non-participant observationsResearcher does not join in with group activities, just merely observes e.g. ofsted
- 7Definition of participant observationsThe researcher joins in with the group activities and acts as part of the group.
- 8What are the three issues associated with access?1. Getting in
2. Staying in
3. Getting out - 9What is meant by 'getting in'You may not be able to gain access to the environment that you wish to observe e.g. time, cost, researcher characteristics etc.
- 10What is meant by 'staying in'It could be hard to maintain trust, keep up your false identity or remain objective
- 11What is meant by 'getting out'Not easy to stop participating with the group for ethical reasons. Must detach yourself to write an impartial account
- 12Give an example of a study associated with these terms (getting in, staying in and getting out)John Howard Griffin - 'Black like me'
He dyed his skin black in order to find out what it was like to be a black man in Southern American in the 1960s. - 13General theoretical advantages of unstructured participant observation-PO produces data that is high in validity. This is because they are being studied in a natural environment
-PO produces in depth qualitative data. Provides the researchers with detailed vaild data concerning feeling, emotions and meanings
-PO allows for flexibility.
-Rapport and trust is built up with the people being studied and therefore more likely to act naturally
-Verstehen (possible to gain empathy and insight)
-PO may sometimes be the only real opition - 14Theoretical disadvantages of unstructured participant observastion- PO lacks reliability, it is difficult to retest
-It often has a small sample size due to the time and money needed. Hard to make generalisations
-Unstructured PO is not objective - it subject to bias
-Personal characteristics may affect what groups can be studied
-There is a danger of 'going native' - researcher may over-identify with the group - 15Practical disadvantages of unstructured participant observations-There can be difficult in gaining entry
-There are problems with winning trust and being accepted in to the group
-There can problems with leaving the group (readjusting and re-entering one's normal world may become difficult)
-Observation can be expensive and time consuming.
-Reseachers may have to make moral decisions when they require 'guilty knowledge' - 16Specific theoretical and practical advantages of COVERT participant observations-CPO eliminates the Hawthrone effect - as participants do not know they are being studied they are likely to behave naturally(T)
-Some groups in society are reluctant to being studied therefore CPO may be the only method to studying certain groups. (P) - 17Specific theoretical, practical and ethical advantages of of OVERT participant observations-The researcher does not have to worry about the consequences of being discovered (P)
-The researcher can avoid taking part in group activities (P)
-It is much easier to record OPO because it is possible to openly make notes (P)
-There is no deception (E) - 18Specific PET disadvantages of COVERT participant observation-Researchers are unable to openly make notes. The researcher has to rely on memory. (T)
- CPO requires a great deal of skill to keep up the act, can also be very stressful (P)
-The researcher cannot ask naive questions without arousing suspicion (P)
-CPO is impractical when studying some groups (P)
-There is no informed consent, they are being deceived (E)
- Researchers often have to lie about their reasons for leaving (E)
-The observer may have to take part in immoral or illegal activities to avoid being discovered (E) - 19Specific PET disadvantages for OVERT participant observation- The Hawthorne effect (demand characteristics) may occur. Pps are likely to change their behaviour when they know they are being observed (T)
-Some groups may not consent to being studied or prevent the researcher from seeing everything (P)
-It is important to main anonymity of the group being studied (E) - 20General advantages of structured non-participant observation-The pre-determined observational categories allow the data to be quantified (T)
-Standardised behaviour categories increases reliability as it allows for researcher to be replicated (T)
-They are less time consuming and cheaper than unstructured observation and so larger more representative samples can be achieved (P) - 21General theoretical disadvantages of structures non-participant observation- The researcher predefines the results with the behaviour categories selected; therefore they will only look at certain behaviour which they have predicted. This lowers validity.
-No rapport is built with the participants
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- A-level Sociology (Paper 1 and 3 - Research Methods and Theory) Flashcards on Observations, created by Catherine Rayner on 14/12/2017.
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- Catherine Rayner
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