What are the types of participant observation?
Covert, overt, participant & non-participant
Lab, field & comparative
What is non-participant observation?
the researcher simply observes the group/event without taking part in it
the researcher actually takes part in the event/everyday life of the group while observing it
What is participant observation?
the researcher makes their true identity and purpose known to those being studied ~ the sociologist is open about what they are doing
What is overt observation?
What is covert observation?
The study is carried out undercover, the researcher's identity and purpose are kept secret from the group being studied. The researcher takes on a false identity and role ~ usually posing as a genuine member of the group
staring at people in the street
Getting in is when the researcher has to gain entry into the group, for example joining a football crowd is likely to be easier than joining a criminal gang.
Who is the man on the left?
John Howard Griffin
Gandhi
Jesus
Bob Marley
What is going native?
flying to America to see the Red Indians
where the researcher ceases to balance the roles of participant and observer and, instead, simply participates like any other group member.
What is getting out?
removing yourself from the group
when you swim to the ladder of a pool, climb it and you are no longer in water
What are the advantages of overt observation?
it avoids the ethical problem of obtaining information by deceit and when studying deviant groups that of being expected to join in their activities, i.e. smoking weed with them
it stops you from getting chilly because you are indoors
it allows the observer to ask the kind of naïve but important questions that only an outsider could ask
looking through a neighbour's window to see what they are having for tea
the observer can take notes openly
it allows the researcher to use interview methods to check insights derived from observations
What are the disadvantages of overt observation?
a group may refuse the researcher permission to observer them
you can't get a good view of yo gurl
it risks creating the Hawthorne Effect
What is the Hawthorne Effect?
when the subjects of a research study don't know they are being studied and therefore don't behave differently
where the subjects of a research study know they are being studied and begin to behave differently as a result, thereby undermining the study's validity.
What are the advantages of covert observation?
it reduces the risk of altering people's behaviour
you can wear a nice costume
it won't cause ethical issues
What are the disadvantages of covert observation?
it requires the researcher to keep up an act and may call for detailed knowledge of the group's way of life even before joining it
there is always a risk of one's cover being blown
it may cause the Hawthorne Effect
it is immoral to deceive people
covert observers may have to lie about their reason for leaving the group
they may have to participate in immoral or illegal activities as part of their cover role
An advantage of participant observation is it is the best way to truly understand what something is like
An advantage of participant observation is that it isn't very time consuming
A disadvantage of participant observation is that it can be personally stressful and demanding ~ especially when undercover
Participant observation can be difficult to remain objective and the sociologist may end up presenting a bias view of the group
This was an overt observation in which the gang members knew what Patrick was doing
What was Griffin's study called?
Black Like Me
I Is Black Now
I love Sun Lamps
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