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6. What ethical problems can participant observation cause?

  • Risk of going native
  • Can be decieving, sometimes illegal and immoral
  • Can be too time consuming

7. What are the disadvantages of overt observations?

  • Group may refuse researcher permission and cause hawthorne effect.
  • Researcher may cause hawthorne effect and engage in illegal activity.

8. Why are participant observations argued to be flexible?

  • Because the sociologist can enter the situation with an open mind and discover things the researcher may miss.
  • Because the researcher can go native allowing them to find things they miss from other research methods.

9. Name one practical disadvantage participant observation can cause.

  • Can be time consuming
  • Can be too valid
  • Can take too little time

10. Why does the risk of going native cause issues with regards to participant observation?

  • Because loyalty to a group or fear of reprisal may lead the sociologist to conceal information.
  • May lead to the sociologist becoming too objective
  • May not be able to provide any data at all

11. What are the advantages of covert observation?

  • Reduces risk of hawthrone effect.
  • Observer can take notes openly
  • Reduces risk of engaging in illegal or immoral activity.