How may a participant observational study be conducted?
Participant observation is join the ob servants` daily activities and observe what they do and say.
Researcher have to gain entry to the group.And follow the rule' go with the flow'. Research should just looking and listening, not to disturb their normal daily life and activities.
Asking questions if needs, further and more detailed information could be obtained.A key informant who is a member of the group has special relationship with the researcher and provide vital information. Researcher need to go hanging around with their observances, follow and join their daily activities.Lastly, to record the finding of the process which have to depends on the memory of the researcher which can be selective, it is normally done in the evening when the memory still fresh.The time of completing the process could be long, and sometimes dangerous.
Why do interpretivists favour unstructured participant observation?
Interpretivists are interested on the meaning of particular action and what cause the actions.They argue that understanding people should seeing the world through their view point.Unstructured participant observation offers observants more freedom and flexible , open-ended answers, it is more informal therefore, the observants` behaviour will less likely to be influenced by researcher, less interview bias resulted. In turn, as research participate in their daily activities, they are more likely to interpret their action in the view point of the observants and to discover the meanings.
Why do positivists favour structured non-participant observation?
Friday, 15 May 2009
Hw 2
Compare and contrast the main types of observational methods
There are two main types of observational methods, participant observation and non-participant observation.
Participant observation is when reseachers join observant`s daily activities and observe what they do and say.while non-participant observation , researcher do not join them, the researcher 'hide' and observing their behaviour. Therefore, for those who use participant observation need to gain entry to join their daily activities which sometimes is extremely difficult and had high risk, such as the criminal group or the group of people taking drugs.
Participant observation offer chance to ask them more questions and collect further and detailed information.As researcher participate in observant`s daily activities, they could discover what people actually do, a higher valid data could be produced and find out how people see the world. And participant observation can provide insight, new direction of research which are less likely to be found out through other type of researches.Sometimes to use participant observation is the only way to obtain results, there are some groups that closed to outsiders such as criminal groups, therefore, join them and gaining trust is the only way to obtain data.
However, It could be very costly in term of time and money, and there is dangers involved. And there is the likelihood of loss of objectivity, observer may 'go native' and never return to normal live.People behaviour would be influenced as they noticed they are been observed.
Whereas Non-participant observation is less likely to influence observant.And they have more opportunities for using research aids such as notebooks.However, they will have much fewer opportunities to discover insights or even detailed information and the meaning of their actions. Therefore, much actions are interpreted based on researchers own views.
Interpretivisits showed favour to participant observation as a method for collecting data since it see the world from the observant`s view.
There are two main types of observational methods, participant observation and non-participant observation.
Participant observation is when reseachers join observant`s daily activities and observe what they do and say.while non-participant observation , researcher do not join them, the researcher 'hide' and observing their behaviour. Therefore, for those who use participant observation need to gain entry to join their daily activities which sometimes is extremely difficult and had high risk, such as the criminal group or the group of people taking drugs.
Participant observation offer chance to ask them more questions and collect further and detailed information.As researcher participate in observant`s daily activities, they could discover what people actually do, a higher valid data could be produced and find out how people see the world. And participant observation can provide insight, new direction of research which are less likely to be found out through other type of researches.Sometimes to use participant observation is the only way to obtain results, there are some groups that closed to outsiders such as criminal groups, therefore, join them and gaining trust is the only way to obtain data.
However, It could be very costly in term of time and money, and there is dangers involved. And there is the likelihood of loss of objectivity, observer may 'go native' and never return to normal live.People behaviour would be influenced as they noticed they are been observed.
Whereas Non-participant observation is less likely to influence observant.And they have more opportunities for using research aids such as notebooks.However, they will have much fewer opportunities to discover insights or even detailed information and the meaning of their actions. Therefore, much actions are interpreted based on researchers own views.
Interpretivisits showed favour to participant observation as a method for collecting data since it see the world from the observant`s view.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Research methods HW
One problem of using survey methods such as interviews and questionnaires to study people is what they say do and what they actually do may be two different things. For example, in interviews, people may conceal information or lie about their real behaviour in order to please the interviewer, save face or create a better impression of themselves.
Discuss ways to overcoming this problem.
Self-completion questionnaires could be used as it is left with respondents to be picked up later or posted back to the researchers. By doing this, there is no interviewer bias, they are likely to write about what they think.however, there may be problem of low response rate.And to avoided leading phrase such as ''Don`t you agree...''. Try to make the questions mean the same to most of the people.
Most importantly, the standard advice to interviewers is to be non-directive, avoid leading respondents and to allow them to express themselves`s views. Through it would minimise interviewer bias and it is important to establish rapport, a friendly and understanding relationships to be develop in between while at the same time maintaince distance to not to influence respondents own views. It is certainly hard to achieve such stage.However, be non-directive could make respondents feel uneasy as the there is no clear guidance, and high level of unrelevent information.
By participant observation, where researchers jion observers daily life and observe what they say and do. As researchers "go with the flow" rather than forcing the pace and influence people`s behaviours and not disturb their daily.It offered a chance to researcher to discover the meaing of their behaviour and what they actucally do, a high level of validity.However, it was argued people`s behaviour changed as soon as they notice they are been observed. But according to Hargreves`s studies conduct in school, pupils behaved normally after they got familiar to him.
By Non-participant observation where researcher need not participate to observe people`s behaviour, they"hide" and observing behaviour without joining.As there is no direct contact, the observer is less likely to influence the group.But researchers have fewer opportunities for discovering the meaning of their actions which interpretivists emphasised on, and the researchers would tend to interprete the behaviour on their own view.
Structured interviews may be less chance of interviewer bias since it is more formal than other types of interviews, it is straight forward.
Discuss ways to overcoming this problem.
Self-completion questionnaires could be used as it is left with respondents to be picked up later or posted back to the researchers. By doing this, there is no interviewer bias, they are likely to write about what they think.however, there may be problem of low response rate.And to avoided leading phrase such as ''Don`t you agree...''. Try to make the questions mean the same to most of the people.
Most importantly, the standard advice to interviewers is to be non-directive, avoid leading respondents and to allow them to express themselves`s views. Through it would minimise interviewer bias and it is important to establish rapport, a friendly and understanding relationships to be develop in between while at the same time maintaince distance to not to influence respondents own views. It is certainly hard to achieve such stage.However, be non-directive could make respondents feel uneasy as the there is no clear guidance, and high level of unrelevent information.
By participant observation, where researchers jion observers daily life and observe what they say and do. As researchers "go with the flow" rather than forcing the pace and influence people`s behaviours and not disturb their daily.It offered a chance to researcher to discover the meaing of their behaviour and what they actucally do, a high level of validity.However, it was argued people`s behaviour changed as soon as they notice they are been observed. But according to Hargreves`s studies conduct in school, pupils behaved normally after they got familiar to him.
By Non-participant observation where researcher need not participate to observe people`s behaviour, they"hide" and observing behaviour without joining.As there is no direct contact, the observer is less likely to influence the group.But researchers have fewer opportunities for discovering the meaning of their actions which interpretivists emphasised on, and the researchers would tend to interprete the behaviour on their own view.
Structured interviews may be less chance of interviewer bias since it is more formal than other types of interviews, it is straight forward.
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
useful link
Forgot to tell you guys,I think it is useful, just add a little more to the mountain high notes. http://www.sociology.org.uk/rc2000b.pdf
without note this time
Marxists view of family
they see the basic conflict of interest between ruling class and subject class, they see family is the Conner stone of capitalism, it is a institution to maintain capitalism and it is shaped by the need of capitalism.
According to Engel, the private property is the heart of capitalism and it is largely own by men.it gave men greater control over women. Marxists some views are similar to functionalists, such as socialising children and reproduction.but there are some differences, they see the reproduction is reproduce 'labour power' which are the future generation, Unit of consumption of the product of capitalism. Provide emotional support to worker endure the harsh realities of capitalism.Socialising children to accept the inequalities of capitalism.They see women are essential to capitalism, they give support and health care to worker which lead to higher productive, and it is free. Men`s responsibilities of family force them cannot be out labour force.
Criticism.
They only focus on the benefits of family to economy of society , they ignore the benefits to individual and other societies.They assume all workers are male and female as housewives. Some sociologists reject the theory of capitalism, therefore , they reject the view of family. Generally sociologists agree economy system influence family but they disagree the family is shaped by the need of the system.
Liberal feminists
They emphasise the culture norms and values are reinforced by family, they family is sexist because it support mainstream culture. They seek to balance the inequalities in the society, so they try to put pressure on legal system and government to change laws and social policies which discriminate women. And they achieved The Equal Pay Act 1975.
Criticism
they did not recognise all pervasive of patriarchy.all other criticism against feminists .
they see the basic conflict of interest between ruling class and subject class, they see family is the Conner stone of capitalism, it is a institution to maintain capitalism and it is shaped by the need of capitalism.
According to Engel, the private property is the heart of capitalism and it is largely own by men.it gave men greater control over women. Marxists some views are similar to functionalists, such as socialising children and reproduction.but there are some differences, they see the reproduction is reproduce 'labour power' which are the future generation, Unit of consumption of the product of capitalism. Provide emotional support to worker endure the harsh realities of capitalism.Socialising children to accept the inequalities of capitalism.They see women are essential to capitalism, they give support and health care to worker which lead to higher productive, and it is free. Men`s responsibilities of family force them cannot be out labour force.
Criticism.
They only focus on the benefits of family to economy of society , they ignore the benefits to individual and other societies.They assume all workers are male and female as housewives. Some sociologists reject the theory of capitalism, therefore , they reject the view of family. Generally sociologists agree economy system influence family but they disagree the family is shaped by the need of the system.
Liberal feminists
They emphasise the culture norms and values are reinforced by family, they family is sexist because it support mainstream culture. They seek to balance the inequalities in the society, so they try to put pressure on legal system and government to change laws and social policies which discriminate women. And they achieved The Equal Pay Act 1975.
Criticism
they did not recognise all pervasive of patriarchy.all other criticism against feminists .
My weak points
Before start my revision on my weak area on topic of family, i need to clarify one thing. Mr.chris, i think you understand what is the meaning of 'going to'. Going to do something is future time>.<>~~~~)
See, my english is good~~~
Anyway, sociology time
Marxists` view of family
Marxists see a basic conflict of interest between ruling class and subject class. They see family is one of the institutions which maintain the position of ruling class and family is shaped by the capitalism. According to Engel, private property which is the heart of capitalism and is largely owned by men, it gave men greater control over women. In some respects, Marxists`s view are similar to functionalists` view, such as reproduce and socialising children. But the difference are the family are reproducing 'labour power' future generations. Unit of consumption of product of capitalism. Provide emotional support to distress worker to cope with harsh realities of capitalism and socialising children to accept the inequalities of capitalism. They see the role of female as housewife, they give emotional support and health care to workers that make worker more productive, it benefit capitalism hugely and it is free. It is the same view of point as Marxist feminist.And family responsibilities force men not to withdraw form work force.
Criticisms Of Marxism
Marxists entirely focus on the benefits that the family bring to the economy, it ignore the other benefits to individual and society.And they assume that the workers are male, female are housewives.Some sociologists did not accept the Marxist theory, therefore, they reject Marxists view of family. Sociologists generally agree economic system influence family, but disagree family is shaped by the need of the system.
Liberal feminists
Liberal Feminists seek equal rights with men and believe individuals should be treated in accordance with their talents and effort etc as opposed to characteristics of their sex ,so they try to put pressure on legal system and government to change the laws and social policies which discriminate against women.And they achieved The Equal Pay Act in 1975.
Criticism of liberal feminists
They does not recognise the all pervasive nature of patriarchy.And criticised they tries to bring more equality without changing social structure.and other criticise against feminists.
See, my english is good~~~
Anyway, sociology time
Marxists` view of family
Marxists see a basic conflict of interest between ruling class and subject class. They see family is one of the institutions which maintain the position of ruling class and family is shaped by the capitalism. According to Engel, private property which is the heart of capitalism and is largely owned by men, it gave men greater control over women. In some respects, Marxists`s view are similar to functionalists` view, such as reproduce and socialising children. But the difference are the family are reproducing 'labour power' future generations. Unit of consumption of product of capitalism. Provide emotional support to distress worker to cope with harsh realities of capitalism and socialising children to accept the inequalities of capitalism. They see the role of female as housewife, they give emotional support and health care to workers that make worker more productive, it benefit capitalism hugely and it is free. It is the same view of point as Marxist feminist.And family responsibilities force men not to withdraw form work force.
Criticisms Of Marxism
Marxists entirely focus on the benefits that the family bring to the economy, it ignore the other benefits to individual and society.And they assume that the workers are male, female are housewives.Some sociologists did not accept the Marxist theory, therefore, they reject Marxists view of family. Sociologists generally agree economic system influence family, but disagree family is shaped by the need of the system.
Liberal feminists
Liberal Feminists seek equal rights with men and believe individuals should be treated in accordance with their talents and effort etc as opposed to characteristics of their sex ,so they try to put pressure on legal system and government to change the laws and social policies which discriminate against women.And they achieved The Equal Pay Act in 1975.
Criticism of liberal feminists
They does not recognise the all pervasive nature of patriarchy.And criticised they tries to bring more equality without changing social structure.and other criticise against feminists.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Policies of family
Starting from what i like the most.
Civil partnership Act in 2005 which grant same sex couples identical rights and responsibilities as opposite sex couples do.
1967, the Abortion Act which states that women have the right to have an abortion.
A series of factory act beginning in 1819 that gradually restrict child labour.
Civil partnership Act in 2005 which grant same sex couples identical rights and responsibilities as opposite sex couples do.
1967, the Abortion Act which states that women have the right to have an abortion.
A series of factory act beginning in 1819 that gradually restrict child labour.
Divorce Reform Act of 1969, which made divorce easier and quicker.
1989, the Children Act which make the children have a choice in decision who they will live with.
1991 Child Support Act, It’s aim was to transfer the burden of the costs of the child from social security to the father.
The Adoption and Children Act of 2002, which came into affect in 2003, and made it easier for the biological, but unmarried father to obtain parental responsibility .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
