Transcript literary Review

Literary Research and Participant
Observation
• Once the field worker has gained entry,
people tend to forget he is there, and let
down their guard, but he does not;
however much he seems to participate,
he is really there to observe and even
to watch what happens when people let
down their guard (Gans 1968: 314).
Important because:
• Direction
• Focus
• Familiarization
Literary Review: people, review articles
and bibliographic research tools
Three Documentation Resources
• People: Experts, professors, Union leaders,
etc.
• Articles and Review articles: annual Review
of anthropology or Current anthropology
• Bibliographic research tools: SSCI,
Abstracts in anthropology, Anthropological
Index
Important Questions
• Does this topic (village, data collection method
or question) really interest me?
• Are there adequate resources available to
investigate this topic?
• Will my research topic, or questions, or the
methods I want to use, lead to unreasonable
ethical problems?
• Is the topic chosen of any theoretical interest?
Participant Observation
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Close to people: day to day interactions
Establishing rapport
Close but a sense of distance
Not all fieldwork is Participant observation
Many data collection tools
reasons for doing participant
observation
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A complete method
Less reactivity
More sensible approach
Closer understanding of the everyday
Making an entry
• Site selection
• Come prepared
• Presentation letter
What are the skills that a
participant observer needs to
develop?
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Language
Building memory
Maintaining naiveté
Building writing skills
Hanging out
Reflexivity
Stages of participant observation:
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Initial contact
Shock
Discovery
The break
Focusing
Leaving the field