non participants observation

• Definition


  the researcher observes the group or event without taking part in it. For example using a two way mirror to observe
• Parts of the observation

  • qualitive
  • not representitive
  • dosent gain verstehen
  • valid
  • not generalisable
  • interpretivist favour
• practicl strengths

  • good opportunity
  • good response rate
• practicle limitations

  • have to be highly skilled
  • take time and money
  • matter including CAGES
• how can limit be overcome


  pick someone with skills and with the time
• ethical strengths

  • more saftey
  • increased confidenditality
• ethical limitations

  • right to withdraw
  • anonymity
  • deception
  • in school children cant. give consent
• how xan ethical limit be overcome

  dont include private information in report

  if in schools parents have to give consent
• ethical strengths

  • no hawthorne effect
  • interpretivist
  • qualitive
  • valid
  • action and interprtation
• theoretical limits

  • positivist
  • not quantiative
  • not reliable
  • not representitive
  • no social fact
• how can theoretical limits be overcome

  • repeate in multiple groups
  • use quantative data
• Banduara 


  demonstrate a non participant observation and provises the wider population with information on how humans being intimate