Participant Observation Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

Introduction All methods involve observation, but participant observation is characterized by the extent to which its advocates insist on observation and interpretation of a situation, informed by an understanding of the situation from the point of view of the participants rather than the observer. An attempt is made to avoid imposing categories from outside. Participant observation is the method of anthropology, although it is used in a wide range of sociological studies when the researcher has become part of a daily round, learning languages and meanings, rules of impersonal, relations... and in short, living the life of the people under study. (Hughes, 1976). Traditional participant observation is usually undertaken over an†¦show more content†¦In this case, the researcher may not be protected, or may not protect others, from the risk of harm- especially if they social group they are studying are a deviant group that may partake in violent acts. Also, they will be deceiving the participants and will lack informed consent. Also, in this type of observation there are chances that the researcher could become bias in their view and may ‘go native’. Another disadvantage is close friendships are often resulting from connections with members of the group under study and the covert nature of the research can put a tremendous strain on the researcher, both in and out of the fieldwork setting. Example of a covert observation would be the famous Bandura’s 1961 Bobo doll study. In this study, after watching a model act violently the children were unknowingly observed as they played with toys, so the researcher could meas ure the childrens level of aggression after watching a model acting aggressively. The children were unaware that they were being observed and the reasons why they were involved in this study and therefore they would more likely to show natural displays of behaviour. Disadvantages of Overt Participant Observation However, a disadvantage would be that the participants understand the aims of the observer and so there is likely to be possible observer effects (the participants changing their behaviourShow MoreRelatedThe Pros and Cons of Participant Observation Essay503 Words   |  3 PagesThe Advantages and Disadvantages of Participant Observation as a Research Method This essay will examine how participant observation is used as a research method. In the main body of this essay, this idea will be addressed by pointing out advantages and disadvantages of participant observation. I will give examples to support my argument. Participant observation is the main research method favoured by interpetitivists. It involves the researcher participatingRead MoreWhat Is Meant By The Term Objectivity 870 Words   |  4 Pagesmarks) Objectivity means that the researcher has to remain natural while conducting research and to not be bias. Suggest two disadvantages of longitudinal studies in sociological research (4 marks) A main disadvantage of longitudinal studies is panel attrition. If you are going to study a group of 1,500 participants once a year then obviously some of these participants will no longer be able to be part of the study. This could be due to illness or death, refusal, or changes in personal informationRead MoreWhy An Independent Variable Affects A Dependent Variable888 Words   |  4 Pages(Bryant, L. (2014), (Census). For this survey method, experimenter choose the subject and questions needed for the collection of data. The advantage of this method involves a faster evaluation period and is inexpensive. However, the disadvantage of this method is the interviewers inability to observe the participants emotions to the questions. Also, the participants may not answer the questions honestly, and they serve as a small group illustrating opinions for a larger population (Henry Tischler, (2011)Read MoreThe Scientific Method Of Scientific Methods1387 Words   |  6 Pagesmethod a theory is formed by everyday observations. It predicts behaviors or possible outcomes. Next a hypothesis must be formed. A hypothesis is â€Å"a testable prediction often implied by a theory† (Myers, 2010). A hypothesis allows scientists to then research their question and support their theories with plausible data and concrete findings. The research methods that help formulate scientists’ data and results are case studies, surveys, naturalistic observations, experiments and correlations. CaseRead MorePhilosophy627 Words   |  3 Pagesmight be the advantages of using the archival method? The archival method is advantageous in this situation because of the possible availability of existing data that can be used. The use of census documents, college records etc. could provide valuable information to confirm the theory that men use declarative statements and women ask questions. Additionally, the archival method can be less expensive. * What might be the disadvantages of using the archival method? The disadvantage to this methodRead MoreNaturalistic Observation : Observing People999 Words   |  4 Pages Naturalistic Observation – observing people in their natural setting. The advantages to his method are; realistic natural behaviours, low demand characteristics, can generate new ideas for research and test existing findings. However the disadvantages are; lack of control of variables, observer bias, limited to public places or certain types of behaviours, which may create ethical issues. Controlled Observation – allows researchers to observe in a natural setting, giving focus on whatRead MoreQuantitative And Qualitative Research Methods871 Words   |  4 Pagesstandardized questionnaires the questions are closed-ended and pre-set; this means respondents have a limited choice of answers - for example, yes/no/maybe. An advantage of questionnaires is that they are a quick and cheap way to gather quantitative data as the response from the data is from a large number of people. However, there are also disadvantages using questionnaires, for example, they are inflexible - this means the researcher will not be able to discover any new areas of interest. Positivists favourRead MoreEssay on Naturalistic Observation1165 Words   |  5 Pagesbelow by the extent to which an experimenter intrudes upon or controls the environment. Naturalistic Observation Naturalistic observation, also known as nonparticipant observation, has no intervention by a researcher. It is simply studying behaviors that occur naturally in natural contexts, unlike the artificial environment of a controlled laboratory setting. Importantly, in naturalistic observation, there is no attempt to manipulate variables. Strength: We can measure what behavior is really likeRead MoreQualitative Project : Observational Methods1360 Words   |  6 PagesObservational Methods Outline 14.1: Introduction The choice to conduct observational research is based on the questions we want to answer. This form of research needs to be approached with the knowledge in mind that this type of psychological observation is inferential in nature. 14.2: What is observational research? Observational research can be both a standalone and an integrated research method. Observational studies can be conceptualized into four core dimensions: Theory testing-exploratoryRead MoreIs Breaking The Law For A Cause Justifiable?782 Words   |  4 Pagesyou for advice. a) Advantages of Telephone Survey: †¢ In Canada, around 98.5% of the people have phones almost double the number of people who used back in 1947. †¢ The cost of operating a telephone survey is ideal in this survey as it is a large group and inexpensive with little or no loss in response rates. †¢ The development of Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) increased the efficiency as the response could be directly entered into the computer file. Disadvantages of a Telephone survey: