SOC 232 Lecture Notes - Participant Observation
Document Summary
Observer doesn"t have to think, automatic response. Could tell what types of leaders were emerging. Has to be clear one or another. Has to be exhausted all must be used. Structured observation: model social analysis after natural sciences. Emerged largely in the context of social-psychology: objectivist ontology to find ways to measure the social world. Explicit rules for observing, categorizing and recording behaviour: direct observation instead of inferences from respondent reports (structured interviews and questionnaires). Misunderstanding the meaning of the terms used in the survey. Problems of memory: what was done, where it was done, etc. Threatening or embarrassing questions not answered sincerely. Gap between stated and actual behaviour: other types of observation research. Immersion in a particular social setting for an extended period of time. To determine meanings that people give to their environment and their behaviour: other types of observation research, cont, non-participant or unobtrusive". Observer does not take part in the activities of the observed group.
