Limitations

• Practical Access (getting in)

  difficult for researchers to become one of the group , in whyte entry to group came through sponsor ‘doc’ who acted as a gatekeeper the only way he could gain entry to the gang was to admit to them who he was and overtly follow .
• Practical (2)

  Researchers physical personal characteristics also important if they are to be ‘one of the group‘ (especially for covert) .

  Griffin went to extreme lengths ,Patrick loooked young enough however his clothing was difficulty (fastened middle button of jacket whilst rest did the top button )
• Practical - Staying in

  • observer must come to terms with a complete set of norms relationships and activities and try to understand the meanings they hold for ppl involved.
  • researcger therefore requires skill in questioning ,watching and listening
• Staying in (2)

  • Failure to accept norms can lead to rejection by the group, however accepting norms if criminal can lead to ethical issues
  • Patricks study his reluctance to carry weapons aroused suspicion within group
• Practical- Getting out

  • getting out involved issues such as damaging relationships , becoming detached to write an accurate account
  • there may be possible reprisals against researcher if criminal activities are involved
  • when Patrick’s research on Glasgow gang were finally published he faced threats to his safety,
• Theoretical - Bias

  Becasue researcher is participating I’m group activity they may become drawn to the group and lose all sense of objectivity.

  • In extreme cases the researcher may go native and this is where the researcher starts to become one of the group.
  • whyte found as his research progressed he became so involved with the gms he started to see himself as one of them.
• Theoretical - Hawthorne effect

  • presence of researcher may change behaviour of the group , led some to suggest that a researcher may nit be observing the truth but an acted version of it
  • one way researchers have tried to overcome this by undertaking covert participant observation however this isn’t only unethical but also presence of a new member may change their behaviour
• Practical - problem of recording data

  • all participant observers are faced with obvious practical problem of how to record events effectively if covert its impossible and if overt the Hawthorne effect may be reinforced
• Ethical

  • PO is used to study edge of society groups which may mean involvement of criminal and deviant behaviour . For a researcher to knowingly participate it’s unethical.
  • patrick didn’t carry a weapon and held back from fights but was handed a hatchet during one ‘battle’
  • if covert researcher isn’t able to gain fully informed consent.