• Why might a researcher of gangs, for example, not reveal their real name either at the time of study or when writing up the work?

• If a researcher employs covert participant observation, are they obliged to take part in all the observed groupÕs activities?

• What ethical dilemmas are involved in the research you have just read about?

• To what extent should a researcher protect those being observed/researched?

Taken from a social psychology website, the link below contains ideas and suggestions for social norms which could be broken. Students are tasked with choosing a norm to break Ð this in itself prompts some interesting class discussion about what would and would not be useful/appropriate Ð care and guidance should be exercised here. This is an example of participant observation as the student researcher is a participant in the environment they are studying and then observing the people in that environment.

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If you scroll down on the website the information, you will see some clear directions for students on the write-up of this task Ð this is essentially the focus of the activity. Students are a participant in the environment they have chosen and must record the reactions of others.