Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Non Participant Observation - Coggle Diagram
Non Participant Observation
Definition
observation in which the researcher does not join those they are observing
Paul Piff (2012)
conducted a study in california to test the hypothesis that wealthy upper class people were more selfish and uncaring than people lower down the social scale
It was assumed that the make and age of cars reflected the drivers wealth status in society
The first study was a non-participant observational study of 274 drivers at a busy 4-way intersection with stop signals on all sides
the more expensive and newer the cars, the more likely the drivers were to cut off other vehicles and were less likely to stop for pedestrians
his observations provided support for his hypothesis
The observers were not aware of the hypothesis being tested
Interpritevism POV
would prefer the qualitative data provided by unstructured non-participant observation and that there is no observation schedule imposing the researchers rules and definitions on the descriptions of the behaviour observed
advantages & disadvantages
advantages
Since people are often unaware that they are being observed, the researcher is unlikely to affect their behaviour
If an observation schedule is used, the data are usually quantifiable and the method is reliable
disadvantages
Unlikely to get to know those they observe or to see them in various contexts. This reduces the chase of discovering the meanings which direct behaviour
Researchers are more likely to impose their meanings and their interpretations on the behaviour of those they observe
Structured
uses an observation schedule which tells the observer exactly what to look for and how to record it. Kind of like a pre-set tick box.
Unstructured
does not use an observation schedule systematically to record specific aspects of behaviour. it simply describes the behaviour as seen by the researcher.
Ethical issues
Often covert- people not aware they are being observed
Informed consent is not available
However, in public places, consent is not needed
Positivism POV
positivists would prefer structured non-participant observation because the results are easy to quantify and the strict instructions of the observation schedule would make this method more reliable