Participant observation

• What is participant observation?

  This is when a researcher joins the group , they’re observing this can be overt ( subjects know they’re being observed ) or covert ( subject dont know theyre being observed )
• what is non-participant observation?

  this is observing without directly joining the group
• What is overt observation? 


  This is when the group being studied know they’re being observed
• what are the strength of overt observation? 


  able to take notes / ask questions

  more in depth than observing from a distance

  its got validity

  more ethical - can get consent and no deception \

  interpretivits prefer

  could be useful when researching schools
• what are the limitation to overt observations? 


  answers may lack details

  interviewer bias

  right answerism

  cannot clarify

  not as much validity

  small sample - less representative

  practical issues - time consuming
• What is covert observation? 


  This is when subjects do not know theyre being observed
• what are the strength of covert observation? 


  no Hawthorne effect

  validity

  representative

  can be applied to real life

  interpretivits prefer
• what are the limitation of covert observation? 


  ethical issues - deception, informed consent

  practical issues - time consuming

  theoretical issues - small scale of lacking representativeness
• what were the key aspects of PO in Venkatesh’s study? 


  joined the gang despite being a m/c graduate

  he went and gained insight and knowledge

  he was researching on the outside then went on to actually get in inside
• what is the PET analysis on venkatesh’s study? 


  Practical issues: time consuming - actually taking th time to join the gang and have those research opportunities take time

  Ethical issues: danger and harm - he was exposed to the gangs criminal activities

  no confidentiality for researcher participants when crime occurs ( perhaps guilty knowledge? )

  consent: the participants gave informed consent

  theoretical issues: ones have validity as it was a covert participant observation

  however, unreliable
• What were the key aspects of PO in Willis learning to labour study? 


  12 non academic students

  anti - school SC

  w/c boys

  used Observations and PO in classroom

  he used other varied methods

  followed into the workplace ( PO )

  interviewed with them and people around them

  the lads trusted Willis as he didn’t snitch on their illegal activities
• what is the PET analysis on Willis study? 


  practical issues: time consuming

  ethical issues: guilty knowledge- since Willis knew of their illegal activities but didn't snitch

  theoretical issues: small scale - unrepresentative

  decrease in reliability

  bias view - withholding information
• PET issues with using PO as a research method


  • Practical issues:
  • Time consuming
  • Gatekeepers, there are more of them, you need to be allowed entry into the group you're observing
  • Acceptance and building a rapport report
• PET issues with using PO as a research method


  • Ethical issues:
  • Issues with informed consent, as no body knows exactly how the research will un-fold in PO
  • Reporting rule breaking criminality is something to consider (guiltily knowledge)
• PET issues with using PO as a research method

  • Theoretical issues:
  • Hawthorne effect - may impact behaviour to differing degrees depending on how good the relationships is between researcher and participants
  • Positivists would criticise this as its not conductive to obtaining quantitative data