Participation and Observation Research Methods

Observation and Participation are research methods used to gather (collect) data for certain purpose. The two methods have similarities and differences on which the discussion below dwells on in extenso as follows;

Starting with differences: Observation process is a systematic viewing of specific phenomenon in its proper setting for specific purpose of gathering data for a particular study, while , under Participation the researcher takes part physically in a research study especially by living with the subjects ( i.e sharing the same lifestyle with the inmates) and that the researcher makes him or herself a member of a group he or she is researching so that he or she can experience what the members of the group experience.

Moreover, under Participation the researcher may be required to get permission or use some maneuver to integrate with the subjects or seek employment in the research site, while, this is not the case with Observation process since the researcher can gather information by just seeing, hearing, and perceiving, thus no need of integrating with the group.

Furthermore, under Participation the researcher may seek clarity by inquiring indirectly without arousing any sense of suspicion from the inmate while, under Observation(especially disguised observation) where the observer is observing in a manner that his or her presence may be unknown to the people he or she is observing thus, hard to get explanation from the inhabitant.

Additionally, an Observation process is more suitable for studying subjects who are unable to articulate meaningfully; for example, studies of children, tribal, animals, birds, deaf and et cetera, while, Participation process becomes hard to apply in this scenario.

Finally; under Observation some inmates are rarely accessible thus difficult to obtain representative sample, while , under Participation such limitation are eliminated; however, under Participation the researcher may lose his or her objectivity by being moved emotionally, contrary to Observation process whereas the observer observes in a disinterested manner.

Coming to the similarities: 

Firstly; both are methods of collecting primary data whereas the researcher must be at the scene of the event either observing or participating in the activities or lifestyle of the sample group of his or her research study.

Secondly; in both process information (data) obtained are contemporaneous (current) and not second hand data thus, highly reliable.

Thirdly; under both method the issue of subjectivity biasness is eliminated since the researcher has the opportunity to substantiate different matter in actual setting.

Finally; the two method are expensive and consumes much time (slowness) sometime, may even risk the life of the researcher where the subject discovers the reality of his or her presence at the scene or subjects' area.

Generally speaking, Observation and Participation looks more similar than different that is why learned author such as Dr. krishnaswami, and C.R Kothari groups Participation method as part and parcel of Observation method, and they name it as "participant-observation" respectively. All in all, the two methods (process) have substantial differences as appraised above.