Overt Participant Observation

Overt Participant Observation

1. Whyte joined a street corner gang on order to study the behaviour of the individuals. While in the gangs he found that the boys argued about certain topics which were universal to most individuals however the gangs did partake in some illegal activity.

2. Practical Issues

   • Cost and funding will be difficult to obtain
   • Gaining access will have been difficult
   • Risk of going native
   • Time Consuming
   • Hawthorne Affect

3. Ethical Issues

   • Harm to researcher
   • Illegal Activity

4. Theoretical

   • qualitative-not reliable, not generalisable
   • Subjective due to participation of the researcher.
   • Understanding from participating (empathy)
   • High Validity

5. Cicourel: study juvenile justice. went on patrol with police, took on role as unpaid probation officer

6. The Police: isolated from wider society.'Canteen culture'. Officers regard researchers as outsiders. Officers Reiner studied thought of him as 'home office spy'.