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PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION AND FIELDWORK

PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION AND FIELDWORK. Chapter 11. Introduction. Fieldwork (or participant observation) is a data gathering technique for qualitative researchers

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PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION AND FIELDWORK

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  1. PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION AND FIELDWORK Chapter 11

  2. Introduction • Fieldwork (or participant observation) is a data gathering technique for qualitative researchers • The purpose of fieldwork is to gather qualitative data about the social world by interacting with people and observing them in their ‘natural’setting Participant Observation and Fieldwork

  3. Observation and participant observation • Observation is when you are watching other people from the outside as an observer • Participant observation is when you not only observe people doing things, but you participate to some extent in these activities as well • The main idea of participant observation is that you are talking with people and interacting with them in an attempt to gain an understanding of their beliefs and activities from the inside • Most fieldwork of a qualitative nature tends to involve participant observation rather than observation Participant Observation and Fieldwork

  4. Social situations Spradley (1980) says that all participant observation takes place in social situations A place is any physical setting where people are engaged in social activities, for example streets, offices, or villages can all be seen as places People become actors when they play a role in a certain situation, for example on a bus there are passengers and a driver Activities are recognizable patterns of behaviour that people perform, for example people might select a seat on a bus Participant Observation and Fieldwork

  5. The dimensions of social situations Space: the physical place or places Actor: the people involved Activity: a set of related acts that people do Object: the physical things that are present Act: single actions that people do Event: a set of related activities that people carry out Time: the sequencing that takes place over time Goal: the things people are trying to accomplish Feeling: the emotions felt and expressed (Spradley, 1980: 78). Participant Observation and Fieldwork

  6. Fieldwork concepts Gaining access Becoming accepted Reciprocity Key informants Length of fieldwork Equipment Field notes Participant Observation and Fieldwork

  7. Approaches to fieldwork The British anthropological tradition – the study of a completely different culture or society for an extended period The Chicago sociological tradition – the study of social groups in one’s own city or country Participant Observation and Fieldwork

  8. How to conduct fieldwork Table 11.1 The planning phases of fieldwork (adapted from Jackson, 1987) Participant Observation and Fieldwork

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