Unit One: Methodology: Practice Exam Questions:
Section
A: Research Methods
Read the following and then answer the questions:
Participant observation is a
research method that aims to gain a close and detailed
understanding of a particular area of study (usually a small group) through the
sociologist
living with the people in their natural environment.
Participant observation is usually classed as a qualitative research method.
Questionnaires and structured interviews, by contrast, are known as quantitative
research methods.
Participant observation can be either overt - where the researcher is known to
the people
who are being studied - or covert - where the researcher is hidden or disguised
in some
way.
The use of participant observation as a research method raises a number of
ethical
issues. With this method there is also the danger of the sociologist becoming
too closely
involved with the group being studied, and this may take away from the validity
of the
study.
(a) In sociological research, what is:
(i) a questionnaire [2]
(ii) a structured interview [2]
(iii) validity [2]
(b) Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative research. [4]
(c) Outline three reasons a researcher may
have for using covert participant
observation. [6]
(d) Describe three possible ethical issues raised by the use of participant observation.[6]
(e) Describe two advantages and two
disadvantages of using participant observation in
sociological research. [8]
