Participant observation, as is clear from its very name, is that observation of social events in which the observer takes part in the social events. Pros And Cons Of Participant Observation In Research. • Observation allows you to create and observe actual situations. Participant Observation Sports are important social mediums in our country, but basketball is the only sport where you can go to almost any park and play with complete strangers. It has been written primarily for students studying the research methods aspect of A-level sociology. What are some pros and cons of permitting interest groups to participate in rulemaking? Naturalistic observation is a research method that is used by psychologists and other social scientists. Structured Observation 1.2.1. Methodological Issues with Structured Observations 1.3. Pros and Cons. Those being observed have … 968 Words 4 Pages. All methods involve observation, but participant observation is characterized by the extent to which its advocates insist on observation and interpretation of a situation, informed by an understanding of the situation from the point of view of the participants rather than the observer. How to cite Participant Observation Advantages and Disadvantages essay. With regard to monitoring and evaluation, observation generally refers to when an evaluator observes project activities in action. Seeing is believing, they say. ADVERTISEMENTS: This article will throw light on the two important types of observation done in social research, i.e, (1) Participant Observation, and (2) Non-Participant Observation. ... We have to weigh up the pros and cons. 4. While teacher observations have distinct advantages, the disadvantages are quite striking. There are different types of observational research so I’ve assumed you mean participant observation. The Pros and Cons of Participant Observation or Surveys as a Research Method 1933 Words | 8 Pages. In so doing we gain a better understanding of their ways of life. Posted on October 29, 2010 by crow1234 Kurt Lewin was the social scientist responsible for giving this research paradigm the name Action Research. In this piece we examine the nature of participant observation, the various social roles that researchers can take; and some classic problems of participant observation – especially around questions of access and ethics. participant observation pros and cons. While other sports involve diverse equipment and numerous amounts of players, basketball is a quick and easy game that only takes a court and a ball. NR 505 Advance Research Method: Evidence-based Practice (Chamberlain College – Spring 2016) Participant observation is used as a mainstay in field work in a variety of disciplines, and, as such, has proven to be a beneficial tool for producing studies that provide accurate representation of a culture. Structured Observation • Also called Systematic Observation • A predominantly quantitative method • Predetermined observation categories are used • More apt for objectivist-positivist approaches • A non-participant method 3. Ethnographers study human cultures and societies by living among the people they study, by immersing themselves within the group in a process called participant-observation. Understanding Data: The Pros and Cons of Observational Data By Jennifer Shaheen. The Pros and Cons of Student and Teacher Observations May 10, 2019 by April Sutphen It’s undeniable that teachers possess a long list of skills from educator to communicator to voice of reason. List of Cons of Naturalistic Observation. Participant observation: A guide for educators and social practitioners. In this research, researchers are to get fully involved with the live and activities of subjects and hence to be part of the group. Time Consuming Critics of this research method claim that observing a subject who is unaware of being watched will take a longer time to act or manifest expected behavior as opposed to a subject who knows that an experiment or study is going on. 1.2. pros allows observation of variables of behaviors otherwise insight into participant's behavior cons very time consuming potentially dangerous for observer observer may alter behavior of participants observer may lose objectivity. In P.O. Dec 16, 2019 Oct 10, 2016 by Brandon Miller. Pros and Cons of Action Research and Participant Action Research (PAR). Participant observation involves the sociologist joining the everyday routines of a group and observing action in its natural context. Unstructured Observation 1.4. ADVERTISEMENTS: Advantages and Limitations ‘Observation’ Method for Data Collection! Another way researchers use the tool of observation is by placing a focus on participant observation and splitting it into Overt or Covert. High cost per participant Lack of confidentiality Respondents who prefer anonymity may be inhibited by personal approach Input may be unbalanced because some group members dominate Group members and interviewer can bias responses Maybe difficult to analyze or quantify data Activity Observations Pros Setting is natural, flexible and unstructured Why is this participant observation an example of qualitative research? Observation and participant observation are both very important data collection tools that evaluators use throughout the project cycle. Participant Observation. Advantages * Being physically there means you don’t have to rely on people reporting events or behaviour, you can see it directly. Covert participant observation or ethnography is where the researcher does not reveal that he is actually a researcher. the observer/sociologist joins a group and observes their activities, while at the same time taking care to observe what is going on. Ethnography is the systematic study of people and their cultures. Participant Observation is where the researcher joins in with the group being studied and observes their behaviour. Study Chapter 9 - Ethnography & Participant Observation flashcards from Momo Sylvia's Walter Murray Collegiate class online, or in Brainscape's iPhone or Android app. sociologist too mention but a few, professions employ the daily observations we engage in as humans in a methodology called participant observation. Here the observer fully engages with the participants and partakes in their activities. To best evaluate a teacher, districts should use observation in conjunction with other sources of data. He freely interacts with […] 1. PROS AND CONS OF OBSERVATIONAL RESEARCH • Pros • Observation allows you to see how individual act together and separately. The Pros and Cons of Participant Observation or Surveys as a Research Method. This post covers the theoretical, practical and ethical strengths and limitations of using overt and covert participant observation in social research. Evaluators use observation and participant observation to gather data about project inputs, outputs, and outcomes. Covert participant observation has a number of advantages over both more traditional methods of research (such as questionnaires and interviews) and the related form of overt participant observation.For example, this method makes it possible for the researcher to gain access to groups that would not normally allow themselves to be studied. Type 1# Participant Observation: The participant observation means watching the events or situation or activities from inside by taking part in the group to be observed. The technique involves observing subjects in their natural environment. It can be used if conducting lab research would be unrealistic, cost-prohibitive, or would unduly affect the subject's behavior. References 1.1. But like participant-observation, this method also suffers drawbacks, particularly if the participant wanders off topic or feels the need to adjust their answers to appear more socially acceptable. The focus is upon what can be learnt from individuals in their own habitat acting "normally". One way to really understand observational data is to listen to Tricia Wang’s TED talk. The participant observation method, also known as ethnographic research, is when a sociologist actually becomes a part of the group they are studying in order to collect data and understand a social phenomenon or problem.During participant observation, the researcher works to play two separate roles at the same time: subjective participant and objective observer. An attempt is made to avoid imposing categories from outside. COVERT PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION Erving Goffman's study, "Asylum" (1961) Disadvantages of OPO CPO EVIDENCE James Patrick’s study, “Glasgow Gang ” (1973) ‘James Patrick’ observed a Glaswegian gang in the Maryhill found Tim (a gang member) who got him into the gang Tim as the Advantages of Observation: (1) Simplest Method: Observation is probably the most common and the simplest method of data collection. Learn faster with spaced repetition. July 25, 2020. The results are filed away permanently in the teacher's human resource file, and decisions such as tenure and promotions can be based on this information. 9 Pros and Cons of Ethnography. INTRODUCTION Observation methods attempt to study individuals without interfering with their behaviour if possible. Participants aren’t aware that observation and research is being conducted, even though they fully interact with the researcher. Non-participant: When observer observe as a detached emissary without any attempt on his part to experience through participation what others feel is called non-participant . Complete Participant. Indirect observation can be explained by receiving feedback from the students about how the teacher performed during his/her class activity (Seale C, 2004). 1933 Words 8 Pages. through a one-way mirror. Beginning with primary data collection, participant observation will be applied to my research. Non-participant covert observation involves secretly observing a group, e.g. ... I’ll just outline the pro’s and cons of Overt versus Covert. Participant Observation A technique of field research by which an investigator studies the life of a group by sharing in its activities (becomes one of the people they are observing) Pros of Participant Observation? It does not require much technical knowledge. 0. Firstly the difference between participant and non-participant observation. 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