It provides factual data instead of forcing people to make assumptions about the behaviors or decisions that people make. Also, they will be deceiving the participants and will lack informed consent. Participant Observation (Disadvantages of participant observations…: Participant Observation. Ethical questions exist for this qualitative research method. The information applies only to a group of individuals. The first use of this method dates to the early 19th century when Joseph Marie stated that the “best way to get to know Indians (Native Americans) is to become like one of them, and it is by learning their language that we will become their fellow citizens.” Frank Cushing, Bronislaw Malinowski, and Margaret Meed were all extensive users of this collection option. That means it is easier to get beyond the superficial responses that some people give so that the information researchers can access comes from their rational thought processes. That means there aren’t measurements given to the information gathered during this work because zero structures are available to do so. High ecological validity if observation is covert. It also provides the advantage of disproving specific ideas because of the direct observations that create data. That means a similar population group will have an experience that is somewhat the same if an equal set of variables impacts them. 4. “Chaitra Parba” of Gadaba tribe, he can not only observe different aspects of … Being covert requires deception and deprives the participants of the opportunity to provide their informed consent. It is favored by interpretivist sociologists as it acheives their main goals of validity especially if it is an unstructured observation. Looking for cleaning services near you? Qualitative research, such as participant observation, use more of an open-ended approach. 7. Attempts at analysis, if any, are thin and disjointed: 1-3: Very limited knowledge, eg one to two very insubstantial points about PO or about methods in general. Deceiving people to gain information about them is typically seen as being wrong, and there may be ethical choices about participating in an Immoral or illegal activity during the course of research. Observation can be useful if a researcher is trying to find the meaning and true picture behind the research, one of the strengths is that sometimes it is the only way to research small social groups. It opens the door for researcher speculation. Difficult to replicate. If both of these elements are not available in the group of workers who will collect information, then the lack of understanding can leave information uncollected, even though someone with experience might identify it as useful data. The people who readily make themselves available to projects like this tend to have a specific agenda that they want to fulfill. living the life of the people under study.' Researcher can follow up different directions/ideas if something interesting occurs - Whyte - 'learned answers to questions i wouldn't have had the sense to ask', Practical advantages - Access to more suspicious groups as can gain rapport and trust - helpful when studying groups like gangs. It can be challenging to duplicate the results of participant observation work. Outline the advantages of participant observations-validity-flexibility-practical advantages-can be used in situations where questioning would be ineffective . Therefore, allowing us to research and expand knowledge on lesser-known social groups, which in turn will widen our Psychological understanding of the world. As the name suggests, it is a way of collecting relevant information and data by observing. A participant observation study has the most success when researchers have a high level of familiarity with the population group and the theory under consideration. 5. Advantages of Covert Participant Observation An advantage of covert observation is that it allows us access to social groups that normally would not provide consent to being involved in studies. Advantages of Observation: (1) Simplest Method: Observation is probably the most common and the simplest method of data collection. Difficult to be objective. It provides results that lend validity to a proposed theory. Difficult to record data. More insights become available because of participant observation. The best price. One advantage of performing a participant covert observation is that participant behave as they normally would do so this would make the observation valid when looking at the truants activities. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Keeping and Analyzing Field Notes … The Advantages and Disadvantages of Participant Observation as a Research Method This essay will examine how participant observation is used as a research method. Participants do not always act naturally when they know they are being watched. That means the findings produced from these efforts may not qualify for acceptance in some scientific and sociological circles. Participant observation. Researchers are in full control over the information that they feel is important to gather when performing participant observation work. The Stances of the Observer 7. Advantages and disadvantages of participant observation. The information gathered by participant observation as a predictive quality. It provides practical advantages to data collection that other methods cannot use. », Validity - produces rich qualitative data which shows picture of how people really live. Participant observation allows data collectors to gain more trust and rapport so that we can get more information about particular groups. Furthermore, it also prevents the researcher from becoming over-familiar with the participants and ‘going native’. Any community can become part of a participant observation method of data collection. For example, if an observer participates in a religious ceremony of a tribe, viz. 7. 8. Allows researcher to see what goes on with their own eyes - can make judgements and observe body language used ; Researcher can be more open minded as … 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. Choose from 335 different sets of disadvantages of participant observation flashcards on Quizlet. … It gives us a way to see how people could react in future situations when they have a specific set of experiences or values that drive their decision-making processes. … Participant observation offers the advantages of a natural setting, the opportunity to observe people for lengthy periods of time so that interaction and changes in behavior may be studied, and a degree of accuracy or completeness impossible with documents or recall data such as that obtained in surveys. Participant Observation. Only then can he use the observation method to record and take notes. Tips for Collecting Useful Observation Data 10. Participant observation also has disadvantages. Return to Article Details Participant Observation as a Data Collection Method Participant Observation as a Data Collection Method By taking a proactive approach to ideas or circumstances that could be problematic if left unchecked, researchers can ensure the survival of a project, idea, or commercial venture. Participant observation allows researchers to capture data through speculative means regarding the areas they choose to investigate within a population group. Learn disadvantages of participant observation with free interactive flashcards. Not aware research is taking place, they will be addressed by pointing out advantages and Disadvantages of participant. In Marketing research as it observes the manner in which consumers behave in their workplace of consent! These groups can be unpredictable, humans are creatures of habit – especially in reactionary circumstances ceremony! 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