Observations
Covert Observation
The researcher doesn't tell the group they're bring observed
The British Sociological Association advise that you should only use covert participant observation when there's no other way of obtaining the data
Nigel Fielding (1981) used covert observation when researching the National Front (a far right-wing political party) because he believed he would encounter hostility if they knew he was a sociologist
Overt Observation
When the group is aware of the research and know who the researcher is
Beverley Skeggs (1991) used overt observation when studying female sexuality among students at a college
Participant Observation
When the researcher actively involves themselves in the group
Non-participant Observation
When the researcher observes the group but isn't actively part of it
Strengths
The researcher isn't drawn into the group so they can be more objective about the group's behaviour
If you want to observe deviant groups, you have to be very inconspicuous
Weaknesses
Observing from the outside stops you from getting to where the action is
Overt research may influence the behaviour of the group
Strengths
Allows you to research the workings of deviant groups
The researcher gets first-hand insight of people in natural real-life settings
Gets the researcher right to where the action is - so they can check out the dynamics of a group from close up
If it's covert, people can't mislead the researcher
Weaknesses
Can't repeat the research
Ethical and practical problems with getting in, staying in and getting out of the group
The researcher in a covert observation may join in with illegal acts if they're in a deviant group
Overt research may influence the behaviour of the group
Usually includes a small group so it's not representative of the population
The researcher may get too involved and find it hard to stand back and objectively observe the group
Lacks reliability, a covert observer may find it hard to remember all the events and accurately record them
It's hard work, time consuming and expensive