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Theory and Methods part 8 - Coggle Diagram
Theory and Methods part 8
Participant observation
: the researcher joins the group being studied and observes their behavior.
Types of participant observation
Overt participant observation
: when the group being studied is aware that research is taking place and of who the researcher is
Covert participant observation
: the group being studied is unaware of the research and is deceived into thinking the researcher is a real member of the group
Strenghts of participant observation
high in validity because normal behaviour of the group is observed in natural setting
deep understanding can be obtained from seeing things from the point of view of those being studied
Limitations of participant observation
problems with gaining access to the group, being accepted, recording information, leaving the groups, and analysing data
researcher needs to have social characteristics to be allowed in the group
can't generalize all other groups
in covert research, the researcher uses more time to maintain their cover than actually gaining information
realibility is low since it can't be repeated
researchers may lose objectivity if they idenitfy with the group and see things from its point of view
presence of the observer may affect the behavior of the group and the researcher wouldn't know
Non-participant observation
: when the researcher observes a group but does not participate in what it is doing
Strenghts of non-participant observation
:
allows researchers to observe people in their natural habit without Hawthrone Effect
only reflects the assumptionsand interpretations of the researche so low realibility and validity
Limitations of non-participant observation
does not allow researchers to investigate why peope behave the way they do