Exam 7: Participant Observation and Case Studies

In participant observation of criminals one should learn the argot, but avoid overusing it.

_____________ are quantitative case studies that involve longitudinal measurement of a dependent variable on a single subject or case.

Most participant observers agree that it is a good idea to study groups with which you are already familiar or of which you are a member.

"Verstehen" involves:

LaPiere's restaurant study found that, even though a major- ity of restaurant owners served an oriental couple, most indicated in a later survey that they would not.

Define single subject designs.How do they differ from group designs and what are their principal advantages/disadvantages?

Single subject designs have greater generalizability than group designs.

Due to police secrecy, participant observation studies of the police have been rare.

A type of research strategy in which the researcher takes a more qualitative, sensitizing strategy and immerses himself/ herself in the subject matter describes:

What types of ethical dilemmas might be introduced in the process of conducting a participant observation study? How might a researcher properly handle these?

_________________ are key persons in field research who will vouch for the researcher's presence and serve as an entree to the field setting.

A "verstehen" approach to data gathering involves a more qualitative, sensitizing strategy.

A gatekeeper is an insider or person willing to vouch for the researcher's presence.

LaPiere's restaurant study found that, even though the majority of restaurant owners indicated they would serve an oriental couple, most actually refused them service.

Disguised observation in which the researcher pretends to be a member of the group is the desired strategy in field studies.

Some participant observers feel that the researcher should remain objectively neutral and avoid moralistic stances in conducting this research.Utilizing discussion on this issue in the text as a beginning point, what do you view as the proper role of the researcher in criminal justice?

Despite some shortcomings, experiments remain the most effective means of gathering data.

There is a unanimous agreement among those conducting participant observation in criminal justice research that the investigator should avoid moralistic stances.

What type of sampling procedure is most widely used in participant observation?

"Edgework" or "radical ethnography" involves researchers going to extremes if necessary in pursuit of their subject matter.