5RM observation

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what is covert observation?
where the sociologist hides their identity and the participants dont know they are being researched
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what are the strengths of covert observation?
less chance of hawthorne effect, access to difficult groups
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what are the weaknesses of covert observation?
researchers interpret groups differently, may not have social skills, unethical, cant take notes in front of participants, risk to researchers safety, difficult to gain trust and then leave, difficult to repeat, unrepresentitive
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what is overt observation?
where the researcher is honest about their identity and the participants know they are being studied
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what are the strengths of overt observation?
less risk of safety, can take notes, ethical
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what are the weaknesses of overt observation?
may go native, characteristics of researcher may prevent them from taking part, groups may be interpreted differently by different researchers, hawthorne effect, group may refuse, difficult to repeat, unrepresentative
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what are the examples of overt observation?
Barker making of a moonie and Venkatesh gang leader for a day
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what was Venkatesh's study?
observed a gang for six months in Chicago, spending time with them
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what was Barkers study?
given permissions to observe the religious sect the moonies taking part in prayers and using questionnaires and unstructured interviews
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what are the examples of covert observation?
james patrick glasgow gang and humphrey's tearoom trade
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what was Patricks study?
study of a gang in glasgow posing as the leaders friend, visited them over 3 months and had to have lots of knowldege about them to fit in and dress like them, took part in dangerous with weapons, violence and drug taking, relied on memory
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what was humphrey's study?
study of male sex in public restrooms, acted as look out, used systematic sheets and voice recordings for notes, took car registration numbers to show up at their house a year later posing as a social health researcher, took extra caution to protect
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what is structured observation?
where the researcher uses a structured observation schedule containing a list of behaviours expected from the participants. the researcher then records how many times they show each behaviour on a tally chart
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what are the strengths of structured observation?
can record information in front of participants, less time consuming, less training needed, creates quantitative data, less likely to interpret differently, easy to repeat
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what are the weaknesses of structured observation?
hawethorne affect, not flexible, cant built relationships, doesnt explain why people show the behaviours
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what is an example of structured interviews?
flanders system of interaction analysis - a chart examining the behaviours shown by pupils in american classrooms
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what is non-participant observation?
where the sociologist doesnt take part in the activities and only observes
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what are the strengths of non-participant observation?
easier to record information, less risk of safety, doesnt need social skills, less chance of going native, easier to repeat
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what are the weaknesses of non-participant observation?
researchers may interpret participants differently, chance of hawthorne effect, researcher cant experience the activities of the participants
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what is an example of non-participant observation?
paul willis learning to labour
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what is participant observation?
where the researcher takes part in the activities of the participants
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what are the strengths of participant observation?
researcher learns what it is like to be the participants, can be overt or covert, open minded, can allow access to difficult groups, makes people feel more comfortable, builds rapport
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what are the weaknesses of participant observation?
hawthorne effect if covert, researcher might go native, training and knowledge is needed prior, characteristics of the researcher may prevent them from taking part, time consuming, hard to take notes, may not have social skills, could be unsafe
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Card 2

Front

what are the strengths of covert observation?

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less chance of hawthorne effect, access to difficult groups

Card 3

Front

what are the weaknesses of covert observation?

Back

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Card 4

Front

what is overt observation?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

what are the strengths of overt observation?

Back

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