Gang Leader for a Day Discussion (Research Method)

Please watch the four minute video on “Gang Leader for a Day,” an example of a successful participant observation study. This four minute video describes a sociologist’s participant observation study of the Robert Taylor housing projects in Chicago.  Chapter 2 covers participant observation and research ethics.  Please watch the video and read the text about participant observation as well as ethics and consider the significance that the research has in the larger society. In other words, think about the following questions as you watch the video.  After sociologists gather their research findings, what might these findings tell us about our society/culture? What sociological conclusions may be drawn from the research?

1. What made Venkatesh change his method of research from a survey to participant observation?
2. Describe the role of the researcher in this study and how he was able to be successful in gathering the data.
3. What ethical concerns surround this study?
4. How does the findings of this study contribute to an understanding of particular types of communities in our society?

Gang Leader for a Day Discussion (Research Method) Answer 

Initially, Venkatesh conducted a survey by asking gang members some questions. However, after talking to the gang members, he was told that if he wanted to learn more about how a particular group was, it would be best to actually live with them rather than ask some “silly questions.” Venkatesh realized they made a good point and so he engaged in participant observation.