The Pros and Cons of Participant Observation Essay

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Participant Observation as a Research Method This essay will examine how participant observation is used as a research method. In the main body of this essay, this idea will be addressed by pointing out advantages and disadvantages of participant observation. I will give examples to support my argument. Participant observation is the main research method favoured by interpetitivists. It involves the researcher participating in a social group to observe and experience the world as a participant while still observing the group for future analasys of their behaviour from the researchers point of view. The researcher must decide how he will approach†¦show more content†¦There are both advantages and disadvantages to participant observation. Participants face the problem of objectivity, it is often very time consuming, for example, Beverly Skeggs (1997), spent 12 years researching the lives of women on a caring course in England. Participants also face dangers and can also find themselves in situations they find morally unacceptable or illegal. Quantitative researchers samples are too small and while the researcher may get the bulk of his/her information from structured questions, they are not getting peoples true opinions. The conclusions can only apply to the specific group which the researcher has studied and cannot be generalised or replicated. The observer himself decides what information to select or omit and the fact that the observer is present in overt observations, it is believed that the group will not act naturally. This therefore questions the validity of the data collected. There are also many advantages to participant observation compared with other research methods. By preparing a questionaire, the researcher has already decided what questions he wants to ask and what information is important to the study.Show MoreRelatedThe Pros and Cons of Participant Observation or Surveys as a Research Method1937 Words   |  8 Pagessociologist too mention but a few, professions employ the daily observations we engage in as humans in a methodology called participant observation. Dewalt and Dewalt (2002:1) define participant observation as â€Å"a method in which a researcher takes part in the daily activities, events, rituals and interactions, of a group of people as one of the means of learning the explicit and tacit aspects of their life routine and culture.† Participant observation can be carried out in roles that reveal or hide the identityRead MoreQuantitative Methods and Analysis Unit 1 Db774 Words   |  4 Pageslooking for in the child. There are several pros and cons for a face-to-face interview method. The cons would be that you would have a variety of communication (technology) (Editorial Board 2012). Then you would have a variation of the time and of the place for the interviewer as well as the participant, then third you would have some additional time if you would need to take some notes instead of having to record the interview. The face-to-face method pros would be that you are able to record theRead MoreQuantitative Methods and Analysis Unit 1 Db755 Words   |  4 Pageslooking for in the child. There are several pros and cons for a face-to-face interview method. The cons would be that you would have a variety of communication (technology) (Editorial Board 2012). Then you would have a variation of the time and of the place for the interviewer as well as the participant, then third you would have some additional time if you would need to take some notes instead of having to record the interview. The face-to-face method pros would be that you are able to record theRead MoreTypes of Experimental Research Methodologies1387 Words   |  6 Pages  Natural observation occurs when researchers observe participants in their natural setting. When researchers use natural observation they do not change the environment the participants are in and the researchers do nothing to change the behavior of the participants. Natural observation is used when researchers are looking for a particular behavior but this can be a very time consuming method of research. The researcher has no guarant ee that he or she will witness the particular behavior he or sheRead MoreBeing Thin, Petite, And Attractive Is Driving Young Women776 Words   |  4 Pagesletters were then reviewed and a coding scheme was developed from that which was written. Through observation of the letters, simple pros and cons could be determined. The patients descried pros of their disorder as helping them feel safe, making them feel more attractive, helping them feel in control, letting them avoid uncomfortable emotions, and last, helping them feel different or special. The cons the patients described were the constant thoughts about food, feeling controlled by food, loss ofRead MoreLiterature Review on Tesco and Impact of Recession1682 Words   |  7 Pagespurpose of this paper is to provide the details of the philosophies and the strategies that are being adopted to carry out the research successfully, providing the details of the suitable ones that are being adopted. This study also discusses the pros and cons of the philosophies, strategies and the research approaches that are being adopted. Various types of data collection tools are being used as a means for gathering data. This review intends to explain the research path that is being adopted andRead MoreTeaching Method Is More Beneficial Than A When Evaluating Student Progress And Achievement Essay1856 Words   |  8 Pagescollected and analyzed over the course of one school year, and will be compared to findings in similar research to determine if one method is, in fact, more beneficial to students than the other. The data to be analyzed will consist of classroom observations performed by other teachers, STAR testing data throughout the course of a year, and the results of the ACT Aspire test from Spring 2016 and Spring 2017. The research will include at least six teachers, two novice teachers, two experienced teachersRead MoreThe Effect of Social Class on Educational Attainment Essay1158 Words   |  5 Pages=========== Participant observation within classrooms would be my form of research, I would spend lessons within a classroom observing the interaction of working and middle classes with the teacher, and observe the labelling theory at first hand, and I would also observe the working class students behaviour in comparison to that of middle class. The type of participant observation I would chose would be overt because I believe that covert participant observation is morally Read MorePsychological Case Study1620 Words   |  7 PagesPsychological Case Study Abstract The aim of this case study is to investigate the participants relationships with other family members. Why does she argue so much with her mother? The problem that the client is faced with is in the relationship that she has with her mother. Although the love between them is clearly evident, there is a lot of friction between them and there are frequent arguments fought out. Symptoms from the client include violent swearing, shouting, sarcastic remarks, verbalRead MoreHearing Concepts Of Group Dynamics Essay1733 Words   |  7 Pagesstruggling with depression, and had an indefinite stay at Greenleaf. There are many factors and concepts from our class present in this treatment group. One of the first concepts that I found in this group was its group work values. Many of the participants found a positive value from coming to the group. This makes handling groups easier, because it causes less stress on the facilitator to keep control of derailers and whiners. Another group value that I saw was that cooperation and democracy. I

Analysis Of The Poem Samir Moussa - 1168 Words

Samir Moussa It appears to me after reading Samir’s story that his cultural identity was forged out of three distinct cultures, Lebanese from his father’s side, Columbian from his mother’s side, and American being born and raised in Washington, DC. (Uopeopleedu, 2016) In contrast to Samir, my cultural identity was forged out of a single culture, being born and raised in London by my British parents. While Samir considers himself extremely fortunate to have been culturally influenced by his visits to see extended families in Lebanon and Columbia, as well as school friends in Europe. I feel his experiences have resulted in him feeling a loss of cultural identity, expressed through his inability to figure out where he grew up. (Uopeopleedu, 2016) I would have to say that my exposure to other cultures was very limited growing up, compared to Samir’s, as all my relatives and school friends are all based in England, so all of my cultural influences have been extensively British in nature. I have no doubts in my mind that I am culturally British. The influences Samir felt visiting different cultures resulted in him considering himself to be an â€Å"international being,† with only â€Å"the World to call home.† (Uopeopleedu, 2016) Although I can strongly identify with Samir’s notion of being an â€Å"international being† having now sampled the cultures and settings of 11 different countries, I do not share his view of having only â€Å"the World to call home.† I consider my home to be with my

Nativism Race and Immigrants Free Essays

string(101) " American economy is vital for the existence of the values that this democratic nation was based on\." Nativism is the feeling that immigration and foreigners are detrimental to native-born Americans. Unfortunately, nativist’s feelings are not based on political convenience or logical theories, but on ignorant assumptions that produce religious, racial, and cultural discrimination. Many nativist groups or individuals, both in the past and presently, have one thing in common- the fear of not being in control. We will write a custom essay sample on Nativism: Race and Immigrants or any similar topic only for you Order Now The basic thing one has to see is that misinformation and short-sighted fear can often produce the absence of fairness and human dignity. The Ku Klux Klan was a racist group who also committed atrocities in the name of nativism. The KKKs were formed because many people were started to get afraid of the â€Å"rising power of the blacks† and also hated immigration and Jews. â€Å"What was the rising power of the blacks? † Is it because they were not slaves or maybe because they simply wanted to vote, a constitutional right! African Americans were still treated like property in the South under the Jim Crow Laws. African Americans were denied their constitutional right to vote by various ways of intimidation; but yet the KKKs could do whatever they wanted and be protected by the â€Å"constitutional† idea that they had the right to express themselves. The KKKs were also anti-Semitic and anti-Semitism was prevalent in the U. S. To understand immigration better one has to see the factors that produced and produce immigration to America. Industrialization and social changes in Europe produced mass immigration from countries like Germany, France, and Ireland. The Industrial Revolution transformed the small, agricultural society into a manufacturing economy which helped the U. S. to prosper and excel. Social changes were another major factor that stimulated immigration. Political upheavals, religious persecution, and a search for adventure were the basic reason for the relocation of these people. Why would they come to the U. S. to purposely try to create a political or cultural upheaval, if the whole reason they left their homelands was escape these problems? The truth of the matter is that they just wanted to seek a peaceful setting that they could create a family and contribute to American society. There were two types of immigrants- the old and the new. The old immigrants of the past( which consequently was also divided into old and new immigration categories) and the new immigrants of today; mostly the Hispanics and Asians. Most of the old immigrants were Europeans- French, Irish, German, Italian, and Polish. Although the new immigrants of that time were discriminated by the native† Americans and the older immigrants ( British, French, and German) there was not the same animosity that is seen between present immigrants and native Americans. In the present, 86% of the newest immigration comes from Latin America and Asia while Europe only contributes 10%. The main difference between present immigration and past immigration is that most immigrants from Europe were male and white; however, present immigration is that most of todayâ €™s newcomers are from Developing Countries ; therefore, most are colored people who, either are married or have a family. Some may say that new immigrants are less skilled than the old immigrants and that furthermore, they do not want to â€Å"Americanize† but actually most of the newest immigrants are educated and professionally trained. The problem with the American government is that they don’t give Hispanics or Asians any opportunities because they know that these immigrants will succeed! In fact what they do is oppress these immigrants until these people get fed up and retaliate for survival; then the Americans say how much a problem immigrants are without knowing that in time of vulnerability any human being is going to act irrational. This is a day to day event in the U. S. ; one could say it is â€Å"political drowning of an immigrant. † Why is it that these immigrants cannot have equal jobs as the people who have been educated here? The idea that new immigrants cannot effectively contribute to the American economy just because they are culturally different is simply naive. Why is it that the old immigrants did contribute to the advancement of the American economy and the newer immigrants are people who are just useful for menial jobs? One hopes that society’s judgment of present immigration is not determined just on their color of skin. The problem with American society is the pessimistic attitude they obtain when things are not going their way. As Harry Truman wisely said, â€Å"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties! † Economically speaking, immigration is beneficial for the American economy. Several arguments are given to try to prove this wrong. Some may say that immigrants take away jobs from Americans. But what jobs? Most immigrants work as maids or janitors, jobs that Americans do not want to do. What would the U. S. do without immigrants who are willing to do humiliating jobs for scarce amounts of money? Or maybe these critics of immigration are talking about the few amount of immigrants who want to excel and become successful? The anti-immigration people feel threatened and fear that these â€Å"minorities† will surpass the â€Å"native† Americans and they will no longer be able to control and manipulate these â€Å"ignorant, gullible immigrants. † Another argument is that immigrants receive more than their fair share of welfare benefits. But yet again in actuality immigrants pay their fair share of taxes. Julian Simon, an economist states, â€Å" immigrant families typically pay more taxes than their native counterparts do. † Also according to Julian Simon, immigrants arrive young and healthy and use fewer services on the average than do native families. New waves of young immigrants do not receive expensive Social Security, Medicare, and other aid to the aged. Finally a common argument is that for the U. S. , immigration is not an economic necessity but a luxury. And like all luxuries, it can help- or it can hurt. The American economy is vital for the existence of the values that this democratic nation was based on. You read "Nativism: Race and Immigrants" in category "Essay examples" It’s ignorant to say that immigrants do not boost or stimulate the American economy! James Carter, Jr. once said,† Our American values are not luxuries but necessities—not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself. Our common vision of a free and just society is our greatest source of cohesion at home and strength abroad—greater than the bounty of our material blessings. † The common vision that Carter was talking about was and is the most important thing of all- moral values! Currently there are some myths that blind American society concerning immigration. For instance the myth that most immigrants are illegal; eventhough, no one really knows how many illegals there are, it is estimated that 300,000 people enter the country illegally each year compared more than a million people who are entering the U. S. legally. Another myth is that most immigrants have less education than native-born Americans. Actually of African-born residents, 88% have had a high school education or better compared with the 77% of native-born who have had a high school education or better. Lastly, the myth that the newer immigrants refuse to learn English. Most of the new immigrants want to learn English but since their so busy trying to survive and work, they don’t have the time or money to have English classes. It seems that at of all the disliked races, the Hispanics and Asians are probably the worst discriminated class. Since blacks have become appeased with what they have, they really don’t create much of a problem. The whites can use them as their puppets and give them â€Å"little treats† such as an â€Å"almost important† job. The African- American community is complacent, besides a few black leaderS, they just want to leave things the way they are. Unfortunately the blacks have gone so far and advanced so much that they don’t want to risk losing it all; eventhough, the dream that powerful people such as Dr. Martin Luther King had has not yet been accomplished. It seems that everything that goes wrong is blamed on the Hispanics and Asians. The Asians have always been discriminated somehow in American History beginning from California discriminating the Chinese to the Japanese internment camps after Pearl Harbor. The U. S. has never really had a solid relationship with Asia. But what about Hispanics? In the Immigration Act of 1921 their was no limits put on Latin American countries because the U. S. wanted a good diplomatic relation with Latin America and because cheap labor from Mexico was needed on the farms of California. One could argue the throughout American history immigration has been validated by American society if it is beneficial for the natives in America just as long they don’t feel threatened. For instance the Bracero Program, in 1942 when America needed the labor of aliens to help it with its war effort they allowed Mexicans to work temporarily in America’s industries. It appears that the volume of immigration seemed to rise sharply during periods of prosperity and to sink rapidly during periods of prosperity. The question still remains the same- is it really because of cultural differences or racial differences? But is it really a racial thing? Or does transcend just a simple racial problem? Are we really seeking racial equality? For so long The Nordic theory has told us that the white man deserves to be in power. For so long the white man has thought himself as the majority and all the other races see the white people as the dominant race. But in reality the white race is a minority, they in essence have psychological domination in that everybody thinks they are the supreme race. All the minorities of the world resent the domination that white people have exerted for so long. This resentment turns into hate and eventually the minorities are going to do the same thing the whites did and sometimes even unconsciously do — hate another human being. If one condemns the oppression of the â€Å"white man† than one is in danger of establishing his own form of pride in equality as a substitute for the racism he rejects. Furthermore he becomes arrogant over his own lack of arrogance and becomes prideful over his own lack of pride. To escape from this danger, he needs to cease arguing for the equality of all races, and just assume that racial identity makes no difference. There has always been the delusion of white supremacy based on the fact the white culture is vastly superior than any other culture. The genesis of the dogma of white superiority reveals a fundamental confusion between supremacy and superiority. The first is an undeniable fact of the present world; the second is an invention of the mind to defend the first. Basically the conclusion is that because he is supreme, he is also superior. For so long the colored man has had to submit to white control and pretty soon they are going to get fed up. This could lead to a racial war which would be pointless because this whole racial problem is spiritual not physical! In conclusion nativism belongs to something deeper than just immigration or even racism. Most of the nativists in the Know-Nothings and the KKK did not know that they were blindly proclaiming that the white race is the supreme race. America was built on the basis of freedom and unalienable rights that most countries could not offer. The racial problem will never go away because of the nature of a human being. A human being is individual and only cares about himself and unfortunately the U. S. is a capitalistic nation who only cares about its interests. One could wish that the social injustices, racial discrimination, and different stereo-types will cease to exist, but as long as humans live on this earth there will always be injustices. The U. S. government will never be perfect no matter how democratic the principles are. Unfortunately, democracy has its flaws and deficiencies just like and other government. Harry Truman wisely said,â€Å" No government is perfect. One of the chief virtues of a democracy, however, is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes can be pointed out and corrected. We will never live in a just and faultless world because it is both spiritually and psychologically impossible. And history will just keep repeating itself in a continuous cycle, history is a very powerful tool to acclimate one’s self with the human race or the human identity. But one has to remember that one of the best things about good history is its power to reduce national arrogance and to promote reflecti on and caution for later on. Until we start looking at the human history through the world’s perspective and not just â€Å"American History,† then we will truly excel not only as American people but as a human kind! How to cite Nativism: Race and Immigrants, Essay examples

Public Health Capstone

Question: Discuss about the PublicHealthCapstone. Answer: Research topic In the year 2014-2015, it is estimated that 63% of the adults were overweight and suffered from obesity that results in imbalanced lifestyle. Thus, the prime purpose of this research is to evaluate obesity in adolescence and its impact on their lifestyle. Background It is known that obesity or overweight results in major risks like cardiovascular disease, the occurrence of musculoskeletal conditions, cancerand Type 2 diabetes (Overweight and obesity- AIHW, 2017). Colagiuri (2017) further depicts that almost 2 in 3 adults are suffering from obesity and 71% of the total obese people are men and rest of them are female. It is also known that the problem of obesity increased with the increase in age. However, we need to know the accurate reason for which the problem of obesity occurs. Thus, this research study will focus on the reason due to which people in indolence faces the problem of obesity. The data will be collected primarily from the 47 employees and three managers of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). These data analysis used for this research is both quantitatively and qualitatively. The managers are interviewed regarding what they had found from their statisticson Australiashealth and the employee will be asked the factors though a questionnaire regarding what they have evaluated from their survey on obesity among Australian people. Thus, non-probabilistic sampling technique is used in case of managers while a probabilistic sampling technique is used in case of employees. Research Aim The aim of the research is to find the exact factors due to which the Australian people suffer from obesity. The major reason for conducting this research is to ponder on the fact that almost half of the nation's population are suffering from obesity. Thus, a primary data on various factors for obesity will be collected and analyzed statistically in order to attain an accurate overview of the underlying reason for obesity. Research Objective To evaluate the factors due to which people suffers from obesity in Adolescence. To evaluate the impact of obesity on these people To recommend how to overcome the problem of obesity for better lifestyle Research Question What are the factors due to which people suffers from obesity in Adolescence? What is the impact of obesity on these people? Significance In terms of dietary risks, obesity is the 2nd highest factors that result in the poor health condition of the nation's people (Overweight and obesity- AIHW, 2017). Thus, it is important to find out the exact reason why this problem occurs and what are the future consequences if this problem should not be diminished (Chambers and Nammuni, 2017). Moreover, the outcome of this investigation also allows for future research for in-depth evaluation of individual factors that led to obesity and their possible solution through which the factors can be reduced. In this way, awareness among the community can be successfully made after this research concerning the reason that causes obesity, the impact of this disease and solution for overcoming the obesity and this is the positive outcome of this research study. References Chambers, J. Nammuni, I. (2017). Peripheral Arterial Disease: An Australian Perspective. InVascular Surgery(pp. 109-112). Springer International Publishing. Colagiuri, S. (2017). Diabetes in Indigenous Australians and Other Underserved Communities in Australia. InDiabetes Mellitus in Developing Countries and Underserved Communities(pp. 151-163). Springer International Publishing. Ding, D., Chong, S., Jalaludin, B., Comino, E. Bauman, A.E. (2015). Risk factors of incident type 2-diabetes mellitus over a 3-year follow-up: Results from a large Australian sample.Diabetes research and clinical practice,108(2), pp.306-315. Koye, D.N., Shaw, J.E. Magliano, D.J. (2017). Diabetes and disability in older Australians: The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 126, pp.60-67. Overweight and obesity (AIHW). (2017).Aihw.gov.au. Retrieved 8 March 2017, from https://www.aihw.gov.au/overweight-and-obesity/

The Ordeal of Elizabeth Marsh A Woman in World History Book

Radiology essays

Radiology essays Radiation as Detection and Treatment of Breast Cancer Radiation plays a major role in the detection and treatment of breast cancer through mammograms and radiation therapy. Cancer, or tumors, are malignant growths which do not function like a normal cell. Instead, they grow uncontrollably unchecked by normal cell checkpoints. Without growing limits, the cancerous cells eventually kill normal cells by depriving them of nutrition. Malignant tumors also are unspecialized and do not function like the normal cells from the organ which they come from. The main problems with cancer cells are that they invade surrounding tissues and can spread by the lymph system or blood to other tissues and organs throughout the body. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for women - behind lung cancer (www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0808808.html). White non-Hispanic women have the highest rate of breast cancer, over twice the rate for Hispanic women. The lowest rates occur among Korean, American Indian, and Vietnamese women (www.cancer.gov). Breast cancer has been on the rise, but now due to more effective treatment mortality rates are slowly beginning to decrease. Much of the increase in incidence over the past 15 years is associated with increased screening by physical examination and mammography. More people are realizing they have cancer than in previous years. Breast cancer occurs among both women and men, but is quite rare among men. The first type of radiation is used in the detection of breast cancer. A screening mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to detect breast changes in women who have no signs of breast cancer. It usually involves two x-rays of each breast. Using a mammogram, it is possible to detect a tumor that cannot be felt. The second type of radiation used is radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is localized therapy that is design...

Criminal Activity and Education in The UK Statistics Project

Criminal Activity and Education in The UK - Statistics Project Example From the essay it is clear that that tougher prison sentences reduce crime, particularly burglary. According to the Guardian, research suggests an increase in sentence length for serious offenders can cut burglaries. A research paper on Male unemployment and crimes in England and Wales by Carmichael & Ward indicated that there is a systematic positive relationship between most crime and male unemployment regardless of age. Their results indicated that both the youth and adult male unemployment rates are consistently and significantly positively related to burglary, theft, fraud and forgery and total crime. According to Machin, Marie & Vujić, crime is significantly related to education, especially in the case of property crimes. They find that criminal activity is negatively associated with higher levels of education. Machin, et al research suggests that improving education can yield significant social benefits and can be a key policy tool in the drive to reduce crime. There are m any diagrams in the report which shows that the correlation coefficient value of -0.011 indicates no linear relationship between burglary rate and % of crimes solved. The correlation coefficient value of -0.149 indicates very weak negative linear relationship between burglary rate and average sentence length. The correlation coefficient value of 0.599 indicates strong positive linear relationship between burglary rate and male unemployment rate.