When it comes to the disadvantages of participant observation as a research methodology, the researcher's primary concern is time. Participant observation can be a time-consuming method of data gathering. The reading mentioned a study conducted by Whyte that took fours years to complete. Time becomes a matter if the researcher is not particularly sure of what he is looking for his study and can recognize specific details. There must be time allotted to record your findings and get research problems answered (Hagan, 2010). For the researcher, there will be issues such will the investigator be accepted by the group in which they are intended to study. Also overly identifying with the panel or disliking the group of study can raise a level …show more content…
The researcher may have to deceive individuals to gain the data needed for study, as well as the possibility of having to get in involved in illegal or immoral activities while conducting research. These type of actions by the researcher could lead to biases in the study. The investigator may begin to sympathize with the group. There is also the possibility of not being able to generalize the data due to small sample size (Windsor, 2016). The primary goal for participant observation is to stay focus on the task at hand. During my time in the police department, I have worked several undercover operations and have been put in some dangerous situations. When working with particular groups, you will be asked to do certain things, in an attempt to prove your loyalty. If you are not ready to be put in those types of situations, you must be honest with yourself and your supervisors and only say no. For the researcher who wants to get the full experience, when it comes to their study. The researcher must be honest with themselves and know that they can associate and relate to the group. However, you do not have to become one of them. You must maintain some level of professionalism, remember that you there for a reason. You have to bear in mind that you are there to do a
The problem behavior associated with individuals making bad food choices when presented with unhealthy food will need to be observed so that we may understand how to change this behavior as it is unhealthy and harmful to health overall. Are poor choices in different foods causing obesity? Making poor choices when it comes to food is an
Deception is one of the many ethical issue that have been raised by social influence research. The BPS say that ‘intentional deception of participants over the purpose and general nature of the investigation should be avoided whenever possible. Participants should never be deliberately misled without extremely strong scientific or medical justification.’. Some forms of deception involve lying to participants about the nature of a study, such as Milgram’s study on obedience to authority. Participants were told that they were taking part in a study of how punishment affects learning, when in fact the study was on whether ordinary people will obey a legitimate authority even when required to injure another person.
Gold, 1958. Firstly, the covert 'complete participant ' method, which involves the real identity of the observer being concealed, while the researcher fully involves themselves in the lives of the group. This eliminates the 'Hawthorne effect ' and increases validity, but raises many ethical concerns. The second is an emic approach he called 'participant as observer ', an overt method involving the researcher fully participating in the daily lives of the group, with the group aware that research is being conducted - although objectivity is questioned with this approach, it is the most ethical stance. Thirdly, an etic approach, he labelled 'observer as a participant ' stance, the researcher is not a participating member of activities and simply observes, thus, promoting objectivity. And fourthly, the 'complete observer ', raising ethical concerns as it is conducted without informed consent, and the group is completely unaware they are being observed as the researcher is completely hidden. (Cohen, 2006; Kawulich,
I decided to do my ethnographic observation at Enterprise Elementary School. I went to the preschool on both Monday and Tuesday of SUU’s fall break. They have three preschool classes throughout the day that last about an hour and a half each. The classes each consist of around fifteen young students. Their ages range from as young as four up to six. There was a generally equal split between boys and girls, yet there were a few more boys overall. The children came from a variety of backgrounds. Some were Mexican or African-American and a few spoke two languages and one even spoke three. They often confused words and would mix the languages, yet these students seemed to pick up new concepts faster than some of the others.
PROMPT 1 Middle and higher education are my work contexts as a teacher. Ethnographic observation seems to be hard to plan and apply since most of my students have a part-time job and they do not spend much time at home. Ethnographic observation demands a lot of time and planning. However, it is worth it since it provides teachers with the opportunity to develop themselves as researchers and to improve their professional practices. It allows teachers to know students contexts and the marginalized literacy practices they perform.
The group observation occurred at an International school. The primary school counselor was the facilitator. He meets with individual classes every month. The ages of the students range from 3-11 years old, which represented Pre-k through 5th grade. Each class is pulled out to the counselors classroom for a 45 minute session led by the school counselor. The counselors classroom has minimal distractions with lots of positive quotes. The chairs are set up in a semi-circle so that all can look at each, along with some students sitting on a carpet in the middle.
The type of group I attended was an NA group called "Don't ask, Don't tell" andwas located in lake wales, FL. The specific purpose for this group is to help those that are going through recovery and help maintain a clean lifestyle. There were six participants in the group ages ranging from 23-60. The unique part about this group had a intimate setting. Everyone within the group treated one another as family. No one seem uncomfortable nor stand off within the group. The group facilitator was a recovering addict and had been clean for 10 years. The facilitator had clear knowledge of the disease of addition being that he was once in their shoes. The one thing that stood out about the facilitator was that he knew his group well and very calm and basically relate to
Anthropology is the study of cultural diversity and what it is that makes us human. In order for Anthropologists to come to conclusions they must do research. There are two types of anthropological research that exist: looking at existing studies and theories and personal interest. Ethnographic research is a unique aspect of anthropology that aims to answer questions by doing field research. Unobtrusive and participant are the two types of observations and this essay will be looking at the later. Alfred Shultz (1971) describes participant observation as a balancing attempt to make the strange familiar and the familiar strange. This essay will aim at explaining what participant observation is and demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of this method. Then, compare and contrast Els Van Dongens and Laura Bohannans experience of fieldwork and their different approaches and findings when becoming a participant observer.
Thinking about normal social interactions and normal social behaviors, I think of comfortable. When I sit down with a friend, a usual routine is followed, “Hey, how are you, what’s new?” (e.g. My turn, your turn). These questions between my friend and I include eye contact, attention, and facial expression. Usually, I feel that I give my friend my undivided attention. Other normal characteristics include: remembering what the person has just said so a comment can be made, as well as each comment is appropriate and in relation to the current topic. Moreover, the duration between each question or comment is short.
Voluntary participation conflicts with the scientific norm of particularism whereby there are no boundaries to the number of people contributing to a particular body of knowledge. Some participants may not know there are part of a research or know what the research topic is about for them to participate voluntarily.
One of it is how the data would not be valid as the respondents would not believe Humprey in handling their data and as a respondent, they have the right to withdraw their data. Hence, this is where consent is really important as the respondents could have the power to withdraw ourselves from the research if we deemed to be uncomfortable with the terms and
Following the ethical codes and getting approval from the Institutional Review Board (if the study has human subjects) can really decrease the possibility of any harm being done to the participants. A perfect example of a research study that had lots of things unethical practices was the Tuskegee Syphilis study:
Qualitative research was designed as a way to be directly connected with the subjects researched. Participant researchers may choose to merely observe and collect data or to be an active participant. Covert participation has the advantage of reducing the “reactive effects” of the social setting or group (Bachman & Schutt, 2012). Most researchers who use the participation method of research will often strike a balance between participation and observation. Through participation, an observer may gain the trust of the research subjects which can provide more fruitful results. Some research may however be unethical or a violation of law. A good researcher should use prudence beforehand when crafting their research design.
Audience Analysis and Participation Communication is a critical thinking process done in a variety of ways across different cultures settings using various channels to convey a message. Communication is the exchange of information using both verbal and nonverbal demonstrative langue. A message involves a sender and channel for the delivery and a receiver. Communication is a form of passing information from one person to the next and from one place to another by acknowledging the sender’s intent, comprehending the context of the message, and acting upon it to be able to create shared understanding.
... common among social psychologist like what happened when someone conducted a research called The Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male. The patients in this study were not treated with the disease. The reason why they were selected for the study is to find out the outcome of having Syphilis and not find a cure for it. The research was deemed unethical because the patients were at risk not knowing that they are indeed suffering from Syphilis. They don’t know the symptoms, the cure or the medicine that they should take and it shows that they were rob of the opportunity to get well because the said fact was hidden from them. If there would be another research to be done regardless of the topic, it might be impossible to get participants because of fear that such unethical behavior from researchers might happen again putting everyone’s lives at risk.