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Observations - Coggle Diagram
Observations
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Getting in
We must gain entry to the group some may be easier than others eg football crowds are easier than gangs
Initial contact may depend on personal skills or chance and to gain entry the researcher will need to gain trust and acceptance so may help to make friends with key individuals
Researchers age, gender, class and ethnicity can cause problems
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Getting out
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The researcher could simply call a halt and leave however entering normal world can be difficult. This can be made worse when conducting an obs on and off over a long period
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Issues with covert
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Patrick: Almost found out when he brought his suit with cash which could bring research to an abrupt end
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Strengths of participant
Validity: Observing people can obtain rich qualitative data that provides a picture of how they really live
Insight: Allows researcher to gain empathy through personal experiences by living as a member of a group we can gain insight into life
Flexibility: Rather than starting with a fixed hypothesis allows sociologists to enter the situation with an open mindset about what they will find meaning research can change
Practical: Because sociologists can build trust it has proved a successful method for studying drug users and other outside groups
Staying In
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One danger is that the researcher may become over involved meaning researcher may become biased. At other extreme they may perserve their detatchment as to avoid bias but means they may not understand whats going on
Another problem is that the more time the researcher spends with the group the less strange its ways become to appear
Advantages of overt
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Allows the researcher to use interview methods to check insight and allows observers to ask questions that only outsiders can ask