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