Participant Observation

Participant Observation

1. Participant Observation

   • What is it?
     • Participant observation is where the researcher attempts to become an accepted member of the group who is being studied
     • This method is used by interpretivists, who argue that a sociological understanding of society can only be gained when researchers put themselves in the same position as the people they are studying
     • It yields qualitative data
     • The concept of Verstehen (an understanding developed through empathy or close identification) is important
     • The researcher may decide to adopt either: an overt role in the group- where those being observed are aware of their status as a researcher, or a covert role- where they adopt a cover story to hide their real intentions
   • Weaknesses
     • Practical problems
       • Becoming accepted by the group
       • Gaining the trust and cooperation of the group
       • Leaving the group once the research is concluded
     • Ethical issues: covert roles
       • Problems with deception
       • These issues may be dealt with by telling people after the research is conducted
       • Deception may be justified to protect the researcher, such as with Patrick's 1973 study of Glasgow gangs
     • Theoretical issues
       • Positivists argue that the data obtained are rarely quantified and is therefore unreliable
       • Positivists argue that it is unlikely that the researcher will accurately recall and interpret the information, making it invalid
     • Disadvantages
       • Time-consuming and expensive
       • Can be stressful for researches, especially those in a covert role
       • Data may not be reliable or valid, and may lack objectivity, according to positivists
       • Overt role may undermine validity via the Hawthorne effect
       • Risk of researches "going native" (becoming so involved that they lose objectivity)
       • Only a small group is studied, so it may not be representative

2. Strengths

   • From an ethical perspective, an overt role is more acceptable, because participants can give informed consent to be studied
   • They study people's normal, everyday behaviour
   • Less likely to impose the sociologist's own views on the group being studied
   • Allows for the collection of more in-depth, valid qualitative data than other research methods because there is less chance of the researcher being misled
   • Gains in-depth insights into the meanings that a social activity has o others by seeing it through their eyes (Verstehen)
   • It may be the only valid research method when researching closed groups like criminal gangs and religious sects
   • Allows for a study of people over a period of time, rather than just a "snapshot"