This episode offers an overview of participant observation as a research method within sociology, distinguishing it from non-participant observation. It explains that participant observation involves researchers immersing themselves within a social group to gain a profound, insider understanding, aiming for verstehen or empathetic understanding. The text differentiates between overt observation, where the researcher's identity is known, and covert observation, where it is hidden, discussing the ethical implications of each. Furthermore, it details the strengths of this method, such as its high validity and flexibility, alongside its limitations, including issues with reliability, generalisability, ethical concerns, and potential researcher bias.