observations

• participant observation - involves the observer immersing themselves in the lifestyle of the participant group everyday for months or years. Sociologists participate in the same activities and observe their everyday lives.
• ethnography - any qualitative research project that is focused on providing an in depth description of the everyday lives of a group of people that is as close as possible to the way people see their lives themselves.
• non participant observation - involves the observer watching and recording interaction and behaviour without getting involved in the activities of the group. The observer may be openly observing, for example.
• overt participant observation - a group agreeing to let a sociologist take part in their everyday activities, usually for a long time. These sociologists participate in the same activities as the group being reserached, and observe their everyday lives.
• covert participant observation - the researcher takes an undercover role, infiltrating a group who have no knowledge that they are a sociologist and interacting with the group as a peer
• overt participant observation

  strengths:

  • validity
  • can develop new knowledge outside of existing knowledge
  • subjective

  weaknesses:

  • lacks reliability
  • demand characteristics
• covert participant observation

  strengths

  • validity
  • good method to research hard to reach groups
  • subjective

  weaknesses:

  • ethical issues - lack of consent & may witness illegal activities
  • lacks reliability
• overt non participant observation

  strengths

  • can see the "problems" first hand, which makes it easier to understand
  • objective
  • reliable

  weaknesses

  • hawthorne effect
  • costly
• covert non participant observation

  strengths

  • reliable
  • no hawthorne effect - valid
  • objective

  weaknesses

  • ethical issues - lack of informed consent
  • maintaining a cover can be risky