This research was carried out in order to conduct a study on an Italian street slum in the North End of Boston, America. Since the publication of Whytes book the research method of participant observation has become recognised and a valid method of research. Participant observation comes with its faults where research is undertaken as this essay will explore. The reliability and accuracy is somewhat questioned by many of this kind of research that Whyte observed in an attempt to uncover the objective truth of the North End of …show more content…
Participant Observation involves working closely with a community and therefore developing not only complex relationships within that community but also gaining the trust of the community which carries with it a certain responsibility to those whom you are studying (Bryman, 2001). Whyte acknowledged that he felt grateful to his friend Doc and wondered if he should note Doc's contribution to his research (Whyte, 1955). This suggests that participant observation is not as inconspicuous as researchers would have us imagine and seems to involve certain interferences on the lives of the key informants. This can be dangerous if the informants feel misused and betrayed by the researcher as the research then has a negative effect on the community the researcher intended to help. Not only does Participant Observation represent an intrusion for informants but, for feminist critics, it is equal to an exploitative relationship where the researcher uses key informants for their value without empowering them or acknowledging their input to the study (Bryman, 2001). Many feel that informants play a crucial role in any ethnographic research it is the responsibility of an ethical researcher to tell the informant that they are being researched and the object of that research. To ignore this, would be not only deceit but also an ignorance of the