Observation

Question 1

Participant Observation

Answer 1

Researcher becomes an accepted member of the group studied.

Interpretivist method → yields qualitative data.

Key concept: Verstehen → understanding through empathy/close identification.

Question 2

Participant Observation: Practical Problems

Answer 2

Getting in: gaining access and acceptance by the group.

Staying in: maintaining trust & cooperation.

Getting out: leaving once research concludes.

Roles:
-Overt: group knows researcher’s identity.
-Covert: researcher hides true identity (ethical issues).

Question 3

Participant Observation: Ethical Issues

Answer 3

Covert: deception → may be justified to protect researcher (e.g., Patrick’s 1973 Glasgow gangs).

Overt: ethically preferable → informed consent possible.

Question 4

Participant Observation: Theoretical issues

Answer 4

Reliability: data rarely quantified → difficult to replicate.

Validity: dependent on researcher’s interpretation → may be subjective.

Question 5

Advantages of Participant Observation

Answer 5

Studies normal everyday behaviour.

Less likely to impose researcher’s views.

Produces in-depth, valid qualitative data.

Provides insights into meanings of social activities (Verstehen).

Useful for closed groups (criminal gangs, sects).

Allows long-term study rather than snapshot.

Question 6

Disadvantages of Participant Observation

Answer 6

Time-consuming and expensive.

Stressful, especially in covert role.

Positivists: data may lack objectivity, reliability.

Hawthorne effect in overt roles.

Risk of going native → lose objectivity.

Small sample → may not be representative.

Covert roles → ethically unsound.

Question 7

Non-Participant (Structured) Observation

Answer 7

Researcher does not take part in activities.

Often uses checklists → quantitative data.

Preferred by positivists.

Question 8

Advantages of Non-Participant Observation

Answer 8

Less time-consuming, cheaper.

Replicable → reliability higher.

Reduced Hawthorne effect.

Easier to compare → patterns, trends, causes.

Ethical → consent easier to obtain.

Question 9

Disadvantages of Non-Participant Observation

Answer 9

Not practical for all groups.

Hard to record all incidents.

Subjective interpretation → observers may differ.

Hawthorne effect risk persists.

Covert devices (e.g., hidden cameras) → ethical problems.

Small sample → may not be representative.