Transcript Introduction to Participant

Introduction to ParticipantObservation
A definition
A definition
“Describing and interpreting the observable
relationships between social practices and
systems of meaning, based upon “firsthand
experience and exploration” of a particular
cultural setting” (Lindlof & Taylor, 2011, p.
134).
A definition
Experiencing and recording events in social
settings to lean about how specific
communicative rituals make, maintain, repair,
and/or transform the culture.
The spectrum of roles
The spectrum of roles
• A participant-observation requires some
degree of immersion into the site with the
researcher playing a role somewhere in
between complete immersion and detached
observation
The spectrum of roles
1 Total immersion: Full participation in the
group, while working like an undercover
agent hiding your identity as a researcher.
(down side is that it is hard not to blow your
cover and may be unethical)– Not
recommended
The spectrum of roles
1 Total immersion:
2 Participant-as-observer: mixed status/role
that starts as a participant in the group, while
openly acknowledging the research interests.
This is ideal for studying a group for which
you are already an insider.
The spectrum of roles
1 Total immersion:
2 Participant-as-observer:
3 Observer-as participant: Another mixed
status/role, but here the researcher is more
primarily committed to the research participates
somewhat less regularly. It is clear you are
entering the group for research purposes,
though you do help/participate/engage.
The spectrum of roles
1
2
3
4
Total immersion:
Participant-as-observer:
Observer-as participant:
Complete observer: Here the researcher
observes the group remotely and with little
interaction. The researcher’s identity/presence
is minimized. Only appropriate for public
settings with free access and anonymity.
Field Notes
The big questions
Participant-observers get into the scene and
attempt to find answers to basic questions
about the rituals that drive the culture.
The big questions
Participant-observers get into the scene and
attempt to find answers to basic questions
about the rituals that drive the culture.
Consider who, what, where, when, and
especially how
The big questions
Participant-observers get into the scene and
attempt to find answers to basic questions
about the rituals that drive the culture.
Consider who, what, where, when, and
especially how… don’t try to explain WHY just
yet!
The big questions
If you notice that
- skateboarders and bmx riders clash at the
park
The big questions
If you notice that
- skateboarders and bmx riders clash at the
park
- Students use headphones for a variety of
different social reasons (beyond just listening
to music
The big questions
If you notice that
- skateboarders and bmx riders clash at the
park
- Students use headphones for a variety of
different social reasons (beyond just listening
to music
- There is some persistent sexual or gender
discrimination at the workplace
The big questions
If you notice that
- skateboarders and bmx riders clash at the park
- Students use headphones for a variety of
different social reasons (beyond just listening to
music
- There is some persistent sexual or gender
discrimination at the workplace
- Librarians find ways to do emotional counseling
in the teen reading wing
The big questions
If you notice that
- skateboarders and bmx riders clash at the park
- Students use headphones for a variety of different
social reasons (beyond just listening to music
- There is some persistent sexual or gender
discrimination at the workplace
- Librarians find ways to do emotional counseling in the
teen reading wing
- Parents display various kinds of power at youth sports
games
The big questions
If you notice something… ask and try to
demonstrate
HOW
The big questions
If you notice something… ask and try to
demonstrate
HOW…are these identities and meanings
enacted and performed
Field notes
Field notes
Field notes are the main written text of
participant observation
Field notes
Field notes are the main written text of
participant observation
They should be written immediately after the
observation while the ideas are fresh
Field notes
Field notes are the main written text of participant
observation
They should be written immediately after the
observation while the ideas are fresh
Use scratch notes, memories, photographs,
recordings, or anything else to build the field
note record
Field notes
Field notes are the main written text of participant
observation
They should be written immediately after the
observation while the ideas are fresh
Use scratch notes, memories, photographs, recordings, or
anything else to build the field note record
Experts recommend 10 typed pages for each hour of
observation!
Field notes
Field notes
Describe the multi-sensory world: sight, sound,
smells, taste, touch
Field notes
Describe the multi-sensory world: sight, sound,
smells, taste, touch
Note the material scene as well as the
interpersonal interactions
Field notes
Again…the big question is—how do the roles
and practices that make up this culture get
enacted and performed.
Field notes
Note: your own experiences in the scene are
part of the story--
Field notes
Note: your own experiences in the scene are
part of the story—
You learn how the culture works by working in it
(and you can learn a lot by making ritual
mistakes)
Field notes
Approaches:
Field notes
Approaches:
1. Sketch a scene like a verbal photograph
grasping all the detail you can about the
place and people.
Field notes
Approaches:
1. Sketch a scene like a verbal photograph
grasping all the detail you can about the
place and people.
2. Recount an episode and how it unfolded in
time
Field notes
Approaches:
1. Sketch a scene like a verbal photograph
grasping all the detail you can about the
place and people.
2. Recount an episode and how it unfolded in
time
3. Experiment with point of view (first person,
second person, third person)
Participant Observation
The goal is to learn about a culture by making
the familiar seem strange and the strange
seem familiar.