The Usefulness of Participant Observation as a Sociological Method

Throughout this course, I have studied and participated in various methods of research. There were some methods I loved, some that I thought were useful, but they had their limitations, and a few that I did not particularly enjoy. Let’s start one of the methods that I enjoyed the most, direct observation. I used direct observation for the eating observation assignment. I first thought that I would be very uncomfortable using this method, but once I was practicing it I did not feel uncomfortable. I think this method is very useful since people act like themselves when they believe no one is watching. This allows researches to collect accurate data without the worry that the data could be skewed. Since my participant did not know that he was being observed, he felt comfortable is his surroundings to act like himself. I do like this research method and I would use it again, however there is a down side to the method. Since you cannot talk to you’re participants you then have to make your own conclusions, which may not always be accurate. This problem also comes up with systematic observation. Systematic observation was a method that I did not particularly enjoy. I found that there were too many flaws with the method, like the one previously stated. Another flaw with systematic observation is that the researcher is taking their own preconceived notions into their research. With systematic observation, one is looking for something that they believe people to do. The problem with

The North Hanover Mall is an average shopping center with various stores and small attractions. Typically, the mall is not over-crowded; however, during the evenings and weekends it is well-traveled. There are the average chain stores such as JCPenny’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Hallmark, and Bath and Body Works. Likewise, there are some smaller, lesser known stores, for example, a few nail and hair salons, cafes, a pizza shop, and a sports apparel store. In general, there is a diverse mix of people shopping, from ethnicity to ages and group sizes. The night I choose to do my social observation the mall was much busier than I had anticipated. There was a Halloween event and an antique car show; both circumstances brought more individuals than usual into the shopping complex.

There are two types of collecting data for research, which are qualitative and quantitative research. Qualitative research is used to gain a thorough explanation about a phenomena, and ‘is normally recognisable via the use of methods that include, at least, in-depth interview and group-moderation techniques’ (Bailey 2013)

The first type of research that is used in the field of sociology is experiment research. Experiment research involves creating an experiment based off an hypothesis to answer an question. The scientific method is used to keep the experiment on track and follow a set of guidelines. This experiment is done in a controlled setting in which the design of the experiment is to answer the hypothesis. Data is gathered based on what the participants do or act during the experiment. The data gathered is quantitative, in which the data gathered is expressed in numbers. There are both benefits and limitations of

In order to effectively research whether ethnicity, age, gender, and race have an effect on how an individual view a certain topic such as police brutality I will be observing the group as a participant: asking questions to the group about the topic, looking for reactions and in the end handing

Participant observation is defined as first hand experience. Participant observation is a method developed by Anthropologists in the early 20th century. When Anthropologists noticed that in order to fully understand the question, “Why” in culture. Why do a certain people do this, why is that important, or why do they all do it, are just some of the questions anthropologists use participant observation. The key to participant observation is fieldwork, where the anthropologist actively lives with the people of the culture they are studying for about a year or more. Where the anthropologist goes through culture shock by leaving all their possessions at home and starting a new. This technique of studying gets the anthropologist to become one

In our daily activities as humans, we consciously and unconsciously observe what people do around us, how they do it, and sometimes ask why they do what they do. In so doing we gain a better understanding of their ways of life. Anthropologist and sociologist too mention but a few, professions employ the daily observations we engage in as humans in a methodology called participant observation. Dewalt and Dewalt (2002:1) define participant observation as “a method in which a researcher takes part in the daily activities, events, rituals and interactions, of a group of people as one of the means of learning the explicit and tacit aspects of their life routine and culture.” Participant observation can be carried out in roles

This emphasis on statistical investigation has had a profound influence on the subsequent development of social research in the uk and how we come to know about and understand the social world. But the investigation and observation of the character and

Epistemological criticism argues that all approaches are unlikely to produce consistent evidence because of the inherent property. It will generate a new viewpoint. However, through abundant reading, triangulation will enlarge width and depth in qualitative research and provide an analysis with security- a overall perspective. Participants can improve the validity of research. Bloor (1978) argues that sociologists can establish a correspondence with participants, in which participants can identify, give assent and judgement to sociologists.

LM: I think both observation techniques have their strengths. The third method – participant observer – has also been used in many great studies. If we’re just looking at just the two though, I can see why you each chose to do your studies in the way you did. Eli, in your studies, adding yourself to the group was completely necessary. Had the

By doing this they interview them to get a better understanding the behavior the people and the community. “In a sense, then, researchers must learn to see th world as the group sees it in order to fully comphrehend the events talking lace around them”(Richard T Schaefer 34). This gives you the chance to get to learn new things and gives you the opportunity to tell others on your findings. It connects to when you go on trip somewhere you have not been yet and you are there you observe the behavior of the people that live their and community they live

The widest interest for this participant observation was how subjects interacted in a situation where there was a limited resource without formal mediation for access. Personal experience at airports, for example, revealed that once boarding is announced, often many passengers voluntarily assemble, pick up and put down their luggage as they move step by step forward in a slow, extended line even though they all have pre-assigned seat numbers, while many passengers simply wait, seated, without all the effort entailed by joining the line, and then walk straight through the ticket entry. A similar process often happens boarding buses at the downtown central station, although with more incentive due to limited capacity and first-come, first served seat assignment. Therefore the research interest became how individuals negotiate bus boarding at the central downtown transit center, and if they interact with each other before and after boarding. The researcher would masquerade as a fellow traveler and attempt to categorize different behaviors.

Using this type of research method, I can understand what I would have used other type of research method Taylor et al (1995) ‘‘argued that participant observation offers the best opportunity to discover how people see the world in which they live. It also provides the kind of insight, fresh information and new directions for research which are less likely to come from other methods. ’’

Isn’t it amazing that so much happens around us that people don’t notice the little details? For example you might be speaking to someone and while you’re speaking you might not notice certain facial expressions they are making. Some people might act differently because they want you to notice something but you don’t notice the little things. There are many different concepts that happen throughout every interaction, some people do not even notice them. Throughout my daily life in October, I observed two interactions that were examples of either deviance or front region and back region.

The Social Sciences consist of a variety of disciplines that aim to understand the behaviour, interactions and relationships between individuals and society. Social scientists conduct research in order to gain a deeper insight into the factors that affect individuals. They do so by using systematic methods of investigation that allow them to analyse and interpret their findings, and thus create a new theory of knowledge or expand upon the existing knowledge of a theory (Giddens & Sutton, 2013). Researchers may use a variety of processes that provide a solid and coherent structure to their research that ensures its validity and reliability. Choosing the right process will aid the researcher in better understanding the area of research and thus may allow them to apply their findings to the workings of the wider social world.