Page 156 - DSOC404_METHODOLOGY_OF_SOCIAL_RESEARCH_ENGLISH

Methodology of Social Research

notes 9. observer himself is a Mirror of community life: Participant observer gets so much mixed
in the local group that he himself starts behaving like the other members of the group; his
behaviour represents the observed group. Hence, much information about the group is
revealed by his behaviour.
Other than the above-mentioned benefits, participant observation has some more benefits, like (i)
in it, respondent’s emotional condition can be easily understood. (ii) observer can find the answers
for sensitive questions also (iii) in it analysis of sentimental and qualitative facts can be done easily
(iv) it is easy to record the collected facts (v) in it observer’s eyes become more minute and keen
(vi) in less time, through this method, more information can be found.

19.4 Demerits and Limitations of Participant Observation

Despite many merits of participant observation it cannot be called a completely reliable or scientific
method because it has demerits or limitations also:
1. Full Participation Impossible: M. N. Basu says, “A regional personnel, due to some practical
reasons, cannot fully participate in the life of the group being studied”. these words of Basu
are absolutely true because in the study of prisoners or prostitutes, observer may live among
them but it is difficult to develop their psychology, habits etc. in oneself. In the same way,
during the study of tribes, living according to their traditions and customs is generally not
possible for the researcher. Because of these difficulties only, American social-scientists like
Gaden and Herskovits consider this methodology to be impractical.

Notes Lundbird’s view is that this method is not useful for bedding groups. for e.g. a
person stays in a Harijan colony and does its participant studies; but if the same
person wants to go and study in a Brahmin colony also, then people will refuse
to accept and provide information to him.

2. lack of objectivity: Because of living in the group being studied, observer develops the
feeling of loyalty, intimacy, cooperation and attachment towards it; hence he is not able
to compile the facts in an unprejudiced manner. in place of a neutral observer, he starts
considering himself a member of a section, his scientific point of view comes to an end and
he starts looking at the incidents in an exaggerated manner. Godey and Haute have truly
said that, “as much he becomes a participant in emotional form, that much his subjectivity,
which is his only huge asset, gets destroyed”.
3. Change in Group Behaviour: sometimes the observer receives an important position in the
group and he himself starts influencing and changing the behaviour of the people. For e.g.
if the observer is made the teacher of any school, panch or sarpanch of a panchayat, chairman
of co-operative society etc. and by the influence of his own rights, virtues and personality
he is able to bring a change in the behaviour of the people then he will not be able to do a
scientific study of that group.
4. Most Expensive Method: Participant observation method is most expensive because it takes
time to study through this method. As compared to other methods like questionnaires and
schedules etc., more expense is incurred in this method.
5. study in limited area: one of the demerits of participant observation is that through it
only a study of a limited area is possible because in it more time and money is consumed

150 loVely professional uniVersity