Social Research Methods

1. Social Research Methods

2. observation

3. Why would you use observation?

4. Covert observation Non-Participant observation Participant observation Overt observation

5. Participant Observation Researcher joining in with the group or community they are studying

6. To develop an understanding of the world from a point of view of the subjects of the research • Gain understanding through understanding people’s meanings • ‘get inside people’s heads’ see the world as they do and how they make sense of it

7. verstehen Understanding developed through empathy or close identification

8. Laud Humphreys • ‘Tearoom Trade’ 1970 • Casual sex between men in public toilets • ‘Watch-queen’

9. William Whyte • ‘Street Corner Society’ (1955) • ‘Cornerville’ • ‘Norton Street Gang’ • Doc

10. Covert • Conceals true identity as a researcher • To gain access to group and avoid disrupting normal behaviour • Must become a full participant in the group, or run the risk of being found out

11. Problems with covert role... • May involve participation in illegal or unpleasant activities • Can’t take notes etc without arousing suspicion • Ethical considerations?

12. Overt • Researcher declares true identity and purpose • Able to ask questions about group or interview people • People are aware being watched (ethics) • Avoid taking part in illegal activities

13. Problems with overt role... • Effect the behaviour of those being researched Hawthorne effect

14. Eileen Barker • The Making of a Moonie (1984) • Unification church • Brainwashing?

15. getting in staying in getting out

16. Getting in • Credentials William Whyte (1955) Street Corner Society • Poor Italian district in Boston in the 1930s • ‘Doc’

17. Staying in • Gaining trust and cooperation of those in the group • ‘initially, keep your eyes and ears open but keep your mouth shut’ (Doc to Whyte) • How far to involve yourself? • Criminal behaviour • Whyte: ‘personating’ (illegally voting twice in an election)

18. Getting out • Leaving the group without damaging relationships • Becoming detached and impartial • Confidentiality • Personal safety (James Patrick: A Glasgow Gang Observed)

19. Task

20. Non-Participant Observation observing behaviour without interacting with the participants

21. Louis Theroux

22. Strengths of participant observation • Validity • Insight ‘as I sat and listened, I learned the answers to questions that I would not have had the sense to ask’ (Whyte) • Other methods rely on prior knowledge i.e. What questions to ask

23. Strengths contd... • Insider’s view (not reflecting priorities of researcher eg. in questionnaires) • Practicality • i.e. Groups closed to outsiders • Criminal/devious groups • Hostile to wider society • Makes joining, participation and obtaining cooperation and trust difficult

24. Limitations of participant observation • Time, money & personal cost/danger • Loss of objectivity (‘go native’) • Changing behaviour (overt) • Reliability • Personal qualities of researcher • Impossible to replicate • Generalisation • Ethics