What Is Participant Observation?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Participant observation is

the process enabling researchers to learn about the activities of the people under study in the natural setting through observing and participating in those activities

. It provides the context for development of sampling guidelines and interview guides (DeWALT & DeWALT, 2002).

What is participant observation explain with example?

Participant observation is

a qualitative research method in which the researcher not only observes the research participants

, but also actively engages in the activities of the research participants. … Most researchers who conduct participant observations take on the role that they are interested in studying.

What is meant by participant observation?

Participant observation is

the process enabling researchers to learn about the activities of the people under study in the natural setting through observing and participating in those activities

. It provides the context for development of sampling guidelines and interview guides (DeWALT & DeWALT, 2002).

What is the main purpose of participant observation?

Its aim is to

gain a close and intimate familiarity with a given group of individuals

(such as a religious, occupational, or sub cultural group, or a particular community) and their practices through an intensive involvement with people in their natural environment, usually over an extended period of time.

What is participant observation according to psychology?

Participant observation is

the process of entering a group of people with a shared identity to gain an understanding of their community

. … Through the experience of spending time with a group of people and closely observing their actions, speech patterns, and norms, researchers can gain an understanding of the group.

What are the 4 types of observation?

  • Controlled Observations.
  • Naturalistic Observations.
  • Participant Observations.

What are the types of participant observation?

The approaches used while conducting participant observation typically change over time. There are three types of observation:

(1) descriptive, (2) focused, and (3) selective

. Descriptive observation is conducted at the beginning phase of the observation process.

What are the advantages of participant observation?

Verstehen/empathetic understanding– participant observation

allows the researcher to fully join the group and to see things through the eyes (and actions) of the people in group

. Joining in allows the researcher to gain empathy through personal experiences.

What is an example of an observation?

The definition of an observation is the act of noticing something or a judgment or inference from something seen or experienced. An example of observation is

the watching of Haley’s Comet

. An example of observation is making the statement that a teacher is proficient from watching him teach several times.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of participant observation?

  • Validity – produces rich qualitative data which shows picture of how people really live. …
  • Insight – Allows researcher to gain empathy through personal experience . …
  • Flexibility – more flexible and allows for an open mind.

What are the two types of participant observation?

There are two types of participant observation;

Overt and Covert

.

What is the major problem with using participant observation?

The form it takes is a function primarily of the observer’s experience, awareness, and personality.

Anxiety and bias

are sources of distortion, and their adequate handling is a major problem in refining the human instrument for gathering data.

What are the 6 methods of observation?

  • Testing Method. use tests to learn about human behavior.
  • Case Study Method. in-depth investigation of a person or small group.
  • Cross-Sectional Method. observe participants over a long period of time.
  • Naturalistic-Observation Method.
  • Laboraotry Method.
  • Longitudinal Method.

What is an example of direct observation?

Direct observation is when you watch interactions, processes, or behaviors as they occur; for example,

observing a teacher teaching a lesson from a written curriculum to determine whether they are delivering it with fidelity

.

What is observation and its types?

The observation method is described as a

method to observe and describe the behavior of a subject

. As the name suggests, it is a way of collecting relevant information and data by observing. … Only then can he use the observation method to record and take notes.

What are 3 types of observation?

When it comes to observational research, you have three different types of methodologies:

controlled observations, naturalistic observations, and participant observations

. Let’s quickly look at what each type of observation includes, how they differ, and the strengths and weaknesses of each type of observation.

Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.