Why is Rios’s research in Oakland a perfect example of participant observation?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Embedded into the community as Rios was, he witnessed life as it happened, which included youth-on-youth violence as well as harassment and abuse by the police. During his observational time, he witnessed over 40 citations imposed by the police on the boys in his study. These were usually for minor things such as loitering, not wearing a properly fitted bicycle helmet, or disturbing the peace. Rios never participated in violence, but sometimes intervened to stop it.
Disclosing your research to participants as Rios did has two clear ethical advantages. Because group members know the researcher’s real role in the group, they can choose to keep some information or attitudes hidden. By the same token, the researcher can decline to participate in unethical or dangerous activities without fear of exposing his or her identity.
Even when researchers maintain a public identity as researchers, the ethical dilemmas arising from participation in group activities do not go away. In fact, researchers may have to prove themselves to group members by joining in some of their questionable activities.