Covert Participant Observation Paper

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Questionnaire is defined as “a printed/written form used to retrieve data from an individual”. Ethnography can be defined as “a study of an entire social setting through extended systematic observation. Covert Participation Observation is a popular method of collecting data on gangs and other large and sometimes dangerous social group. The main principles that make sociology a science are it is Empirical, Theoretical, Cumulative, Objective and Value Free. Primary groups are small social groups whose members share close, personal, enduring relationships. Secondary groups are large groups whose relationship are impersonal and goal oriented their relationship are temporary. Ethnography Ethnography is a description and interpretation of a …show more content…

Participant observation involves a researcher joining the group he or she is studying, and in the case of covert observation, the researcher's status is not made known to the group. Participant observation requires studying of individuals in their natural environment by connecting their daily activities. However the researcher tries not to be open minded, in order to seize the actuality of the issue. The researcher can inform the individuals that are being calculated or keep his / her identity hidden. Questionnaires A questionnaire is as set of questions that are present which are used to gather open-ended, fixed choice or a combination of both types of questions. When the questionnaire is made the researcher may decide to test it first before the survey is conducted. This is called a pilot study, in which a small group of people with similar characteristics of those who are targeted to answer the questions. Based on the responses the researcher can determine some facts about the …show more content…

It is done through social contact which is intimate and personal. Within the primary group, such as families, clique, a group of close friends the relationship tends to be informal and relaxed. They share experiences, gossips and fill the need of intimate human companionship. In the secondary group social contacts are impersonal and segmental; one is not concerned with the other as a person. Personal qualities are not important; the secondary group may be a labour union, P.T.A. or trade association or club. The group existence is to serve a specific limited purpose involving the members. The primary group function may be the provision of food, shelter and clothing. The secondary group purpose is to fulfil a specific goal. Primary groups are judged by the satisfying human response they supply, secondary groups are judged by their ability to perform a task or achieve a particular goal. Primary groups are relationship oriented, while secondary groups are more of a goal oriented group. Primary and secondary groups are different, in a primary group persons tend to find to show love, kindness, sympathy etc., while in a secondary group one tend to discover a mechanism that is effective to achieve certain purposes. Some characteristics of primary group

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