RESEARCH METHODS PRODUCING QUALITATIVE DATA IN THE
MAIN
SOCIOLOGY STUDY NOTES
OVERT & COVERT PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION
KEY FEATURES
• Researchers become part of the social group which they study, so they have the
opportunity to observe real-life situations/ behaviours/ interactions. PO aims to get in-
depth information. Sociologists using this method seek to understand the participants’
world from their point of view. Researchers will not only look at what people do, but
what meanings they attach to their actions.
• Many researchers with widely differing theoretical approaches have used this method but
it has been particularly associated with the work of symbolic interactionists such as
Erving Goffman and Howard Becker. (Action theorists tend to favour interpretive
sociology when it comes to research. As they seek to understand, they tend to interact
with people becoming participants themselves.)
• PO produces qualitative data in the main.
• PO has 3 stages: ‘Getting-in’+ ‘Staying-in’+ ‘Getting-out’.
• It has 2 main types: OVERT PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION + COVERT PARTICIPANT
OBSERVATION
OPO: The researcher is being open about the reason for his/her presence and is given
permission by the group to conduct the study.
CPO: The research is carried out secretly. The sociologist does not declare her/his real
identity and purpose.
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, ADVANTAGES OF PO (BOTH OPO & CPO)
• One of the strengths of PO is that the participants are being studied in their natural
environment. It is an in-depth study, which provides rich information and gives a true
insight into a particular form of social behaviour/ the lives of members of a particular
group. By doing so, it can be really useful for generating new hypothesis or possibly for
falsifying some already existing ones.
• Another strength of PO is that researchers can probably better understand their subjects
as they experience many of the same things.
ADVANTAGES OF OPO
• One of the strengths of OPO is that data can be recorded openly and questions can be
asked because the group has been informed about the research.
• Another strength of OPO is that consent is given to the researcher by the participants so
the study cannot be condemned unethical as opposed to CPO.
• Researchers, who carry out OPO, have some control over the degree of their
involvement with the group. Some might choose to stay fairly detached to remain more
objective in their analysis, others may choose to get more involved.
ADVANTAGES OF CPO
• One of the strengths of CPO is that it can give access to certain social groups- usually
deviant and/ or criminal ones- which otherwise would not consent to being studied. For
example: drug-addicts & dealers, street gangs etc.
• Another strength of CPO is that it does not suffer from the Hawthorne-effect. People will
act more naturally as they do not know that they are being observed and studied.
• As the observer is undercover, researcher effect is not a problem either.
DISADVANTAGES OF PO (BOTH OPO & CPO)
• One of the weaknesses of PO is that it is very time-consuming and can be rather costly.
PO is a longitudinal study; researchers might spend months/ years with the group they
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MAIN
SOCIOLOGY STUDY NOTES
OVERT & COVERT PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION
KEY FEATURES
• Researchers become part of the social group which they study, so they have the
opportunity to observe real-life situations/ behaviours/ interactions. PO aims to get in-
depth information. Sociologists using this method seek to understand the participants’
world from their point of view. Researchers will not only look at what people do, but
what meanings they attach to their actions.
• Many researchers with widely differing theoretical approaches have used this method but
it has been particularly associated with the work of symbolic interactionists such as
Erving Goffman and Howard Becker. (Action theorists tend to favour interpretive
sociology when it comes to research. As they seek to understand, they tend to interact
with people becoming participants themselves.)
• PO produces qualitative data in the main.
• PO has 3 stages: ‘Getting-in’+ ‘Staying-in’+ ‘Getting-out’.
• It has 2 main types: OVERT PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION + COVERT PARTICIPANT
OBSERVATION
OPO: The researcher is being open about the reason for his/her presence and is given
permission by the group to conduct the study.
CPO: The research is carried out secretly. The sociologist does not declare her/his real
identity and purpose.
1
, ADVANTAGES OF PO (BOTH OPO & CPO)
• One of the strengths of PO is that the participants are being studied in their natural
environment. It is an in-depth study, which provides rich information and gives a true
insight into a particular form of social behaviour/ the lives of members of a particular
group. By doing so, it can be really useful for generating new hypothesis or possibly for
falsifying some already existing ones.
• Another strength of PO is that researchers can probably better understand their subjects
as they experience many of the same things.
ADVANTAGES OF OPO
• One of the strengths of OPO is that data can be recorded openly and questions can be
asked because the group has been informed about the research.
• Another strength of OPO is that consent is given to the researcher by the participants so
the study cannot be condemned unethical as opposed to CPO.
• Researchers, who carry out OPO, have some control over the degree of their
involvement with the group. Some might choose to stay fairly detached to remain more
objective in their analysis, others may choose to get more involved.
ADVANTAGES OF CPO
• One of the strengths of CPO is that it can give access to certain social groups- usually
deviant and/ or criminal ones- which otherwise would not consent to being studied. For
example: drug-addicts & dealers, street gangs etc.
• Another strength of CPO is that it does not suffer from the Hawthorne-effect. People will
act more naturally as they do not know that they are being observed and studied.
• As the observer is undercover, researcher effect is not a problem either.
DISADVANTAGES OF PO (BOTH OPO & CPO)
• One of the weaknesses of PO is that it is very time-consuming and can be rather costly.
PO is a longitudinal study; researchers might spend months/ years with the group they
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