Question

A sociologist begins participant observation of a group of community college students in the hopes that she can learn more about how young people form new relationships. This group of students is diverse in terms of race, gender, and age. When the sociologist is asked to teach an ethnography class, she hangs out with the students and teaches them more about ethnography in a small group setting. She quickly begins to see many of the group members as her friends and participants in social events with them. Identify the concepts from research methodology that might be problematic for this study.

A. Objectivity and detachment.
B. Informed consent and voluntary participation.
C. Reliability and validity.
D. Generalizability and sampling bias.

Answer 1

The sociologist's close involvement with the group of students may compromise objectivity and detachment, affect reliability and validity of the study, and raise ethical concerns about informed consent and voluntary participation, potentially also affecting the generalizability of the findings.

Step-by-step explanation:

In participant observation, the sociologist's involvement with community college students might present challenges to objectivity and detachment, crucial for maintaining a professional and unbiased perspective. This closeness to the subjects may affect the sociologist's ability to view behaviors and relationships without personal bias, which potentially undermines the reliability and validity of the findings. Furthermore, forming friendships and participating in social events raises ethical concerns related to the sociological practice of ensuring informed consent and voluntary participation, as subjects may not be aware of their continued involvement in research activities. While not explicitly mentioned in the scenario, this situation could also affect the generalizability of the findings if the sociologist becomes too embedded in the specific dynamics of this group, which may not be indicative of broader social trends. It is essential for sociologists to remain aware of their role as researchers to mitigate these issues and preserve the integrity of the study.