Lecture 7

Question 1

• Define Observation
• Participant vs.
• Non-participant

[3]

Answer 1

• Observation: Involves watching and listening to an interaction or phenomenon as it takes place.
• Participant Observation: The researcher participates in the activities of the group (with or without their knowledge).

Example: Pretending to be a prisoner to study prison life.

• Non-participant Observation: The researcher remains a passive observer and does not get involved.

Example: Watching and recording the functions of nurses in a hospital without interfering.

Question 2

Interviews: Structured [2]

Answer 2

Uses a pre-determined set of questions with fixed wording and sequence.

It is rigid.

Question 3

Interviews: Unstructured [3]

Answer 3

Highly flexible.

The interviewer has the freedom to formulate questions “on the spur of the moment” depending on the context of the discussion.

This is appropriate when the researcher needs almost complete freedom in terms of content and structure to explore an issue.

Question 4

Compare Interviews and Questionnaires [2]

Answer 4

• Nature of Investigation: For sensitive topics (e.g., drug use, criminal activity), Questionnaires are preferred because they ensure anonymity, making respondents less reluctant to share.
• Type of Population: For illiterate, very young, or handicapped populations,** Interviews are the necessary option** as these groups cannot read or write responses effectively.

Question 5

Open-ended vs. Closed-ended Questions [2+2]

Answer 5

• Open-ended: Possible responses are not given; respondents answer in their own words.
  Pros/Cons: Provides in-depth information and variety, but analysis is difficult,.
• Closed-ended: Respondents choose from a ready-made list of answers (e.g., tick the box).
  Pros/Cons: Analysis is easy, but information lacks depth and may reflect researcher bias (only listing choices the researcher thinks are relevant),.