Naturalistic Observation

What is ethnography?

Involves the ethnographer participating, overtly or covertly in people's daily lives for an extended period of time, watching what happens, listening to what is said and asking questions.

What is non-participant observation?

Simple observers follow the flow of events. Behavior and interaction continue as they would without the presence of a researcher, uninterrupted by intrusion.

What is the Hawthorne effect?

When a researcher presence influence perception of changes positively. The reactions to the researcher's presence is more of a problem early in a study than later.

What are two limitation of naturalistic observation?

(1) can only do it in public and (2) tells us what they do, not why they do it

What is a strength of naturalistic observation?

Allows us to observe the real world

What are three advantages of naturalistic observation?

Immediacy of data, less disruptive than interviews and open settings are easy to access.

What are the levels of the participant-observation continuum?

(1) complete participant, (2) participant as observer, (3) observer as participant and (4) complete observer.

What are the three steps in naturalistic participant observation?

1. descriptive, 2. focused, and 3. selective.

What is participant observation?

A field strategy that simultaneously combines document analysis, interview of respondents and informants, direct participation and observation and introsepction.

What are three disadvantages of naturalistic observation?

Needs extended periods of observation, closed settings may be difficult to access and needing to manage relationships.

What are the three types of naturalistic observation and provide an example of each.

Non-participant observation e.g. orphan black, participant observation e.g. modern family and ethnography e.g. travelling shows.