Participant observation

• Why is it important to observe people in their normal environment?

  It avoids artificial or perverse situations
• What is one problem with survey methods in interviews?

  People may conceal information or lie
• What type of observation is most common in sociology?

  Unstructured participant observation
• What do positivist sociologists occasionally use in their research?

  Structured observation, usually non-participant
• What is a structured observational schedule?

  A pre-determined list of behaviors to record
• How does a sociologist use a structured observational schedule?

  They record instances of specific behaviors
• What type of data does structured observation produce?

  Quantitative data for patterns and correlations
• How can observation be used alongside interviews?

  To gauge interviewees' body language
• What are the main issues sociologists face in participant observation studies?

  • Getting in: Gaining entry to the group
  • Staying in: Completing the study while remaining objective
  • Getting out: Exiting the group after the study
• Why is gaining entry to a group important in participant observation?

  It allows the researcher to conduct the study
• What is a challenge of staying in a group during participant observation?

  The researcher must remain objective and unbiased
• What does "going native" refer to in participant observation?

  Becoming over-involved and losing objectivity
• What did Maurice Punch find in his study of the Amsterdam police?

  He became over-identified with the group
• What is a risk of remaining detached in participant observation?

  The researcher may not understand observed events
• What are the disadvantages of overt observation?

  • Groups may refuse permission to observe
  • Limited visibility of all group activities
  • Difficulty in taking notes openly
• What did Len Festinger and Jason Ditton have to do during their studies?

  They had to write notes in secret
• What are the practical advantages of participant observation?

  • Validity: Provides authentic insights
  • Insight: Deep understanding of group dynamics
  • Flexibility: Adapts to changing situations
• What are the disadvantages of participant observation?

  • Practical disadvantages: Requires trained researchers
  • Ethical problems: Issues with consent and deception
  • Representativeness: Limited generalizability of findings
• What does reliability mean in research?

  Consistency of results across repeated studies
• Why is participant observation often considered unreliable?

  It depends on personal skills of the researcher
• What do critics argue about participant observation studies?

  They lack objectivity and may be biased
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of participant observation according to its supporters and critics?

  Strengths:

  • Validity: Authentic accounts of actors' worlds

  Weaknesses:

  • Subjective impressions of the observer
  • Risk of bias and lack of objectivity
• What is the Hawthorne Effect?

  Subjects act differently due to observer presence
• How do interactionists and structural sociologists view participant observation?

  Interactionists:

  • Favor participant observation for micro-level insights

  Structural sociologists:

  • Argue it ignores wider structural forces
• What is the overall summary of participant observation?

  • Involves joining a group for insight
  • Can be overt or covert
  • Faces ethical and practical challenges
  • Validity vs. reliability debate
• What is the focus of the sociology topic video on research methods?

  Observations as a research method
• What is the purpose of observations in sociology?

  To witness social behaviors firsthand
• How do observations provide insight into behaviors?

  They uncover motivations not seen in other methods
• What is developed for conducting observations?

  An observation schedule
• How do covert participant observations differ from other observations?

  They require flexibility in observing behaviors
• Which sociologists prefer observations?

  Interpretivist sociologists
• What type of observations do positivists typically use?

  Structured and non-participant observations
• What are the two main types of observations?

  Participant and non-participant observations
• What is a key advantage of participant observations?

  Higher validity through close interaction
• How does non-participant observation differ from participant observation?

  Researchers remain detached from the group
• What are overt observations?

  When participants are aware of the researcher
• What is a benefit of covert observations?

  Accessing hard-to-reach groups naturally
• What are some key advantages of using observations over other methods?

  Witnessing behavior firsthand and natural settings
• Why are observations useful for researching subcultures?

  They allow access to groups less likely to participate
• What are some practical issues with conducting observations?

  Gaining access and recording information