Observations

• What did a sociologist in the 1960s investigate?

  Gay people's sexual encounters
• Why was the sociologist's investigation in the 1960s controversial?

  Homosexuality was illegal in America
• What method did the sociologist in the 1960s use to gather data?

  He observed men in public toilets
• What was the outcome of the 1960s sociologist's observations?

  He recorded what happened and followed up
• What did the sociologist want to investigate on the remote island?

  The life of the island's residents
• Why is the statement about the sociologist living on the island false?

  She never left the island
• What did the sociologist in the 1980s do to study a cult?

  She joined the cult to observe
• What was the sociologist's approach to studying the cult?

  She asked for permission to participate
• What do observations involve?

  Watching the behavior of others
• What are the two main types of observation?

  Covert and overt observation
• What are the features of observations?

  • May be overt or covert
  • May be participant or non-participant
  • Carried out over a longer period
  • Generally collect qualitative data
  • Preferred by Interpretivists
  • Recording information as it happens
• What is covert observation?

  Research where the observer conceals their role
• What is overt observation?

  Research where the observer is open about their role
• What are the types of observation?

  • Covert observation
  • Overt observation
  • Participant observation
  • Non-participant observation
• What characterizes participant observation?

  The researcher is actively involved with the group
• How does the level of participation differ in covert and overt roles?

  Covert roles have high participation, overt roles low
• What characterizes non-participant observation?

  The researcher is a detached onlooker
• Who studied 'high risk' groups in participant observation?

  Stephen Lyng
• What did Stephen Lyng do in his study?

  Joined in dangerous activities with participants
• Who studied telephone sex line workers?

  Amy Flowers
• What was Amy Flowers' method in her study?

  She worked covertly as a telephone sex worker
• Who studied homosexual activity in public toilets?

  Laud Humphries
• What was the method used by Laud Humphries?

  He pretended to be a gay voyeur
• Who studied African-Caribbean supplementary schools?

  Heidi Mirza and Diane Reay
• What was the method used by Mirza and Reay?

  They attended and observed classes
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of participant observation?

  Strengths:

  • High validity
  • Insightful
  • Flexible
  • Reliable

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Practical issues
  • Ethical issues
  • Lack of representativeness
  • Low reliability
  • Lack of objectivity
  • Lack of validity
  • Lack of structure
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of non-participant observation?

  Strengths:

  • High validity
  • High reliability

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Low verstehen
  • Possible researcher bias
• What are the three main issues in conducting participant observation?

  Getting in, staying in, getting out
• Why is participant observation suitable for studying deviant groups?

  They are unlikely to respond to questionnaires
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of covert observations?

  Strengths:

  • Reduces behavior alteration
  • Novel experiences for researcher
  • Can study deviant groups

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Ethical issues
  • Risk of harm to researcher
  • Cannot ask questions openly
  • Social desirability effect
  • Going native
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of overt observations?

  Strengths:

  • Less biased
  • Can ask questions openly
  • More ethical

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Possible Hawthorne effect
  • Risk of going native
• What is the Hawthorne effect?

  Behavior changes due to observation presence
• Why is representativeness an issue in educational observations?

  Observations often focus on small groups
• What makes participant observations unreliable?

  Data recording is unsystematic and hard to replicate
• What is the purpose of a Methods in Context (MIC) question?

  • Explain context from education
  • Provide strengths/weaknesses of the method
• What type of question could come up on Paper 1 or Paper 3 regarding observations?

  A question about observations
• What is the expected mark range for a question on Paper 3 about observations?

  10-mark or 20-mark question
• What is the Flander System of Interaction Analysis Categories (FIAC)?

  A chart for measuring classroom interactions
• What is a limitation of structured observation?

  It lacks depth and insight
• What is a practical issue with unstructured observation?

  Finding a quiet place to record observations