New York Times Article - Research Paper Example

New York Times Article The essay aims to address and respond to the following questions after reading thearticle entitled “If You Want to Observe ’Em, Join ’Em” written by William Grimes and published in The New York Times on January 16, 2008:1) Why do you think Sudhir Venkatech choose to use participant observation to do this research? What advantages and disadvantages can you see in his choice? 2) What special dangers did this research pose to the researcher? 3) From this article, did you learn anything about gang life that surprised you?

If so what? Paper must answer these three questions and have two Scholarly references, must have good thesis.New York Times Article: “If You Want to Observe ’Em, Join ’Em”Grimes (2008) proffered issues pertinent to the experience of Sudhir Venkatech, a sociology student of the University of Chicago, who innovatively solicited accurate and comprehensive information from residents of the Robert Taylor Homes by posing, not as on observer, but as a participant. The paper therefore aims to address the participant observation method, including costs and benefits, risks and value of learning, as taken from Venkatech’s point of view.1. Why do you think Sudhir Venkatech choose to use participant observation to do this research?

Sudhir Venkatech opted to use participant observation to do the research on the life of the poor because it is the most effective means to gather accurate information. Through the observation method and opinion surveys, which he initially tried, the hostility in responses could not even be printed, as Grimes disclosed. It could be surmised that the residents did not respond, gave absurd responses, cursed at the situation, or dismissed the researcher as another person to avoid.What advantages and disadvantages can you see in his choice?

One of the advantages of the participant observation method is that the researcher gets the opportunity to get direct and first-hand information by experiencing the situation himself. Through this method, the researcher also validates the veracity of the information being collected and therefore accuracy and reliability is assured.On the other hand, the disadvantage of this method is that the researcher is exposed to all the dangers, hazards and risks integrated with the situation, among the people he intends to observe.2. What special dangers did this research pose to the researcher?

As disclosed, the special dangers that the research posed to Venkatesh were being included among members of the gang and therefore exposed him to the violent activities these members conduct. Grimes (2008) noted that “when a rival gang sweeps by, guns blazing, he dodges bullets and helps drag a gang lieutenant to safety. When local squatters mete out street justice to a crackhead who has beaten a woman in the projects, he gets a boot in” (Grimes, 2008, par. 5). Further, as supported in Hilbert’s (1980) work, “not all covert participant observation research is necessarily unethical, although such research does invariably create its own particular problems.

Among these are the need to maintain a credible identity and the problems of gathering data in an unobtrusive, yet accurate manner” (p. 51).3. From this article, did you learn anything about gang life that surprised you? If so what? From the article, as revealed from Venkatesh’s experiences, it was noted that some gangs see their organization as a social service organization that responds to the needs of the community. The researcher, through his participant method, validated this argument through his published article entitled “The Social Organization of Street Gang Activity in the Urban Ghetto” and printed in the American Journal of Sociology.

His findings showed that of the funds the gang gathers, “a small percentagewas funneled to tenant leaders, resident organizations, and other individuals who were paid off for their silence or cooperation. As important were the in-kind services that the gang provided—ranging from securityescorts to recreational programming—as well as their willingness to assist households in times of need through grocery purchases, free transportation, and manpower” (Venkatesh, 1997, p. 108). In this regard, through the experience and participant approach applied by Venkatesh, the social activities of notorious organizations, such as street gangs, was revealed to include other crucial and relevant response to address social problems that actually partially led them to organize into a unique and distinct social unit.

The article therefore proved that the participant method, despite the eminent risks, generated benefits to increased understanding of research subjects that would not have been made possible in other traditional research methods.ReferencesGrimes, W. (2008, January 16). If You Want to Observe ’Em, Join ’Em . The New York Times, p. 1.Hillbert, R. (1980). Covert Participant Observation: On its Nature and Practice. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 51-78.Venkatesh, S. (1997). The Social Organization of Street Gang Activity in an Urban Ghetto.

American Journal of Sociolgy, Volume 103, Number 1, 82-111.