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Examine the Reasons Why Some Sociologist Choose Not to Use Overt Observation When Conducting Research

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Submitted By Marsmk
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Participant observation is a primary method in which the sociologist studies a group by taking a role within it and participating in it's activities. It may be over, where other participants are aware if the researchers true identity and motive. Over participant observation has a number if potential weakness or limitations.
These range from the relativity mundane - including the amounts if time and expense involved, through possible problems with data interpretation to more serious questions about the researchers actual levels of involvement in the group and the extent to which this May be considered a naturalistic method if research.
Data interpretation problems can include deciding which observation - among many- are significant. Another thing, any social group has many things happening at the same time. It is difficult for the researcher to observe anyone. Decisions have to be made about who to observe and when to observe them significant evidence may be missed, leading to invalid interpretations if the groups behaviour.
Involvement with a group may be too superficial, given that one of the purposes if participant observation is to experience the world from the viewpoint of the people being studied. Is the researcher does not become sufficiently involved with the group then this type of data might not be collected. An example might be observation of a group involved in criminal activities. Clearly to understand how and why people commit crimes it would be necessary to accompany group members in the criminal expeditions.
Naturalism is a problem that in that people are being studied in they natural environment or habitat and that the research is carried out with the cooperation of the people involved, there is no way of measuring how the presence of the observer influences the behaviour of group members.
The question is to what extent the people being

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