Participant observation

• ADVANTAGES

  • Practical - Allows the researcher flexibility , enables them to develop new questions to be asked.
  • Practical - Allows the study of some social areas of social life e.g. criminal gangs which would otherwise be inaccessible.
  • Theoretical - Researcher is able to build up a relationship with the participant and witness their behaviour first hand - data extremely VALID.
  • Theoretical - Data gained from the research is very in depth , allows the researcher to understand and gain meaning (vershtehen) behind actions.
• DISADVANTAGES

  • Practical - If a group of people are being watched they may change their behaviour simply because they know they're being studied - HAWTHORNE EFFECT.
  • Practical - Very expensive and time consuming , takes a large amount of time and money. Moonies study took 6 years.
  • Ethical - Researching some areas of social life may put the research in danger and may in some cases lead to them actively and wiling participating within the group they are studying.
  • Theoretical - Positivists suggest there are problems with the datas reliability and validity e.g theres no way to repeat or check the findings of the research. No two events will happen exactly the same way.