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Recap last weeks terms

Recap last weeks terms. Qualitative Quantitative Primary data Secondary data Representativeness Reliability Validity Subjective Objective Triangulation Ethics Practicality. Observational Research Methods. Wednesday 7 th December 2016. Learning Aims:.

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Recap last weeks terms

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  1. Recap last weeks terms Qualitative Quantitative Primary data Secondary data Representativeness Reliability Validity Subjective Objective Triangulation Ethics Practicality

  2. Observational Research Methods Wednesday 7th December 2016

  3. Learning Aims: To explore and discuss observation techniques. To know the strengths and weaknesses of observational methods To be able to answer 4 exam questions

  4. Observational Research In surveys which use questionnaires or interviews, the participants can often hide information or act unnaturally to create a better impression of themselves. By using observations, researchers hope to improve the validity of their research by studying how people behave & interact within their ‘Natural’ or ‘Normal’ environment

  5. Observational methods • Non- participant: watches from a distance and is not directly involved with participants. • Participant : Researcher interacts with the study group being observed. • Covert - Group does not know they are being observed • Overt - Group aware they are being observed or studied

  6. Research Methods: Qualitative Analysis {Observations} This is a COVERT OBSERVATION Participant Unknown to the group, the researcher infiltrates the group. Becomes one of them. Joins daily activities. Non Participant Still unknown to the group –but observing from the side lines. ‘Fly on the wall’.

  7. Research Methods: Qualitative Analysis {Observations} OVERT OBSERVATION Participant The group are aware of the researcher –participates in activities of the group Non Participant Group are aware of the researcher. He/she watches from the ‘sidelines’. Researcher does not get involved

  8. Observational Worksheet Worksheet

  9. June is studying the behaviour of poker players. In order to observe the group, she decides to take part in playing with a team. Is this… non-participant participant

  10. Questions…John is studying shopping behaviour. He sits in the CCTV room and observes shopper behaviour. Is this… Covert Overt

  11. Jim is studying classroom behaviour. He writes home to parents to tell them he’ll be sitting at the back of the class & making observational notes. Is this… Covert participant Covert non-participant Overt participant Overt non-participant

  12. Jerome is studying dart player’s behaviour. So they don’t know he’s observing them, he decides to join a team and take part in the darts competitions. Is this… Covert participant Covert non-participant Overt participant Overt non-participant

  13. Ethics in Observational research. Observation research raises more ethical issues thanother types of research. Ethical principles : • Participants should be fully informed. • Participants should not be harmed. • Participants should not be specifically identified.

  14. Ethical Dilemma This is a conflict between the ethical principles and the aim of the research. If the researcher asks for consent to observe the participants then they may act differently – Demand characteristics. If they don’t ask and participants are being observed they may act more naturally.

  15. Participant Observation: Access Participant observation doesn't work unless the researcher gains access to the group. Many groups don't want to be studied. May be hard to get a true representation of the group. Participant observations maybe more effective as a longitudinal study.

  16. Problems Getting access – You may not be able to access the environment you wish to observe. Staying in - hard to maintain trust and keep up your false identity. Getting out : Not easy to stop participating with group.

  17. Strengths • High Validity • Can study social interaction both verbal and non verbal. • Empathy • Researcher can see from the same perspective as the group. • Develops trust therefore more information could be shared. Revealing secrets etc.

  18. Weaknesses • Low reliability. • Hard to replicate. • Often samples are not representative- difficult to generalise. • Time consuming • Lots of pressure on individual • Data will be hard to quantify.

  19. Donal Macintyre - Football Hooligans During the video you are going to answer questions on : Advantages of using Participant observation Disadvantages or problems with using this method https://youtu.be/14N9duPF-kw 9mins-11.50mins

  20. Exam practice Exam practice worksheet

  21. REPRESENTATIVENESS VALIDITY RELIABILITY EVALUATION ISSUES PRACTICALITY ETHICS RECAP Give observation a score out of 5 for each of the above criteria

  22. Check your understanding… Worksheet

  23. How many horses in this picture? Should find 7

  24. Round Up Observation can be participant or non-participant and overt or covert. It involves studying real life as it goes on around us. Usually people should be told that they are being observed, but this may disturb their behaviour.

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