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Qualitative Field Research Babbie Chp 10 Chapter Outline Introduction Topics Appropriate to Field Research Special Considerations in Qualitative Field Research Some Qualitative Field Research Paradigms Chapter Outline Conducting Qualitative Field Research Strengths and Weaknesses or Qualitative Field Research Research Ethics in Qualitative Field Research Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Field Research Topics for Field Research Attitudes and behaviors best understood in a natural setting. Social processes over time. Question Why is field research appropriate to research topics that defy simple quantification? A. B. C. D. field researchers may recognize several nuances of attitude that might escape researchers using other methods. field research is appropriate to the study of those attitudes best understood within their natural setting. field research is well suited to the study of social processes over time. all of these choices Answer: D Field research is appropriate to research topics that defy simple quantification because field researchers may recognize several nuances of attitude that might escape researchers using other methods, field research is appropriate to the study of those attitudes best understood within their natural setting, and field research is well suited to the study of social processes over time. Elements of Social Life Appropriate to Field Research Practices: talking, reading a book Episodes: divorce, crime, illness Encounters: people meeting and interacting Role: occupations, family roles Relationships: friendships, family Elements of Social Life Appropriate to Field Research Groups: cliques, teams, work groups Organizations: hospitals, schools Settlements: neighborhoods, ghettoes Social worlds: "wall street", "the sports world“ Lifestyles (subcultures): urban, homeless Field Research Paradigms Naturalism Ethnomethodology Grounded theory Case studies and the extended case method Institutional ethnography Participatory action research Preparing for Field Work Fill in your knowledge of the subject. Discuss the group you plan to research with an informant. Develop an identity with the people to be studied. Realize that your initial contact with the group can influence your observations. Question When you use field research, you’re confronted with: A. decisions about the role you’ll play as an observer B. your relations with the people you’re observing C. both a and b D. none of these choices Answer: C When you use field research, you’re confronted with decisions about the role you’ll play as an observer, and your relations with the people you’re observing. Reactivity The problem that the subjects of social research may react to the fact of being studied, thus altering their behavior from what it would have been normally. Naturalism Approach to field research based on the assumption that an objective social reality exists and can be observed and reported accurately. Ethnography A report on social life that focuses on detailed and accurate description rather than explanation. Ethnomethodology An approach to the study of social life that focuses on the discovery of implicit, usually unspoken assumptions and agreements. Grounded Theory An inductive approach to the study of social life that attempts to generate a theory from the constant comparing of unfolding observations. Question __________ is an old tradition in qualitative research based on the assumption that an objective social reality exists and can be observed and reported accurately. A. B. C. D. naturalism ethnography ethnomethodology none of these choices Answer: A Naturalism is an old tradition in qualitative research based on the assumption that an objective social reality exists and can be observed and reported accurately. Guidelines for Grounded Theory Grounded theory allows the researcher to be scientific and creative at the same time, as long as these guidelines are followed: Think comparatively. Obtain multiple viewpoints. Periodically step back. Maintain an attitude of skepticism. Follow the research procedures. Case Studies In-depth examination of a single instance of some social phenomenon, such as a village, a family, or a juvenile gang. Extended case method Technique in which case study observations are used to discover flaws in and to improve existing social theories. Institutional Ethnography Research technique in which the personal experiences of individuals are used to reveal power relationships and other characteristics of the institutions within which they operate. Participatory Action Research Approach to social research in which the people being studied are given control over the purpose and procedures of the research. Intended as a counter to the implicit view that researchers are superior to those they study. Seven Stages of Interviewing 1. 2. 3. 4. Thematizing Design Interviewing Transcribing Seven Stages of Interviewing 5. 6. 7. Analyzing Verifying and checking facts Reporting Qualitative Interview An interaction between an interviewer and a respondent in which the interviewer has a general plan of inquiry but not a specific set of questions that must be asked with particular words and in a particular order. Focus Group A group of people are brought together in a room to engage in guided discussion of a topic. Question A ______________ is an interaction between an interviewer and a respondent in which the interviewer has a general plan of inquiry, but not a set of questions that must be asked with particular words in a particular order. A. B. C. D. E. questionnaire project field research project quantitative interview qualitative interview none of these choices Answer: D A qualitative interview is an interaction between an interviewer and a respondent in which the interviewer has a general plan of inquiry, but not a set of questions that must be asked with particular words in a particular order. Advantages of Focus Groups Socially oriented research method Flexible High face validity Speedy results Low in cost Disadvantages of Focus Groups Less control than individual interviews. Data can be difficult to analyze. Moderators must be skilled. Disadvantages of Focus Groups Difference between groups can be troublesome. Groups are difficult to assemble. Discussion must be conducted in a conducive environment. Guidelines - Taking Research Notes Don’t trust your memory. Take notes while you observe. Take sketchy notes in the field and rewrite them later, filling in the details. Guidelines - Taking Research Notes Record • everything. Things that don't seem important may turn out to be significant. Realize that most of your field notes will not be reflected in your final project. Strengths of Field Research Permits a great depth of understanding. Flexibility - research may be modified at any time. Inexpensive Has more validity than surveys or experiments. Weaknesses of Field Research Qualitative and not appropriate for statistical descriptions of populations. Has potential problems with reliability since field research methods are often personal. Is It Ethical? To talk to people when they don't know you will be recording their words? To get information for your own purposes from people you hate? To see a severe need for help and not respond to it directly? Is It Ethical? To be in a situation but not commit yourself wholeheartedly to it? To be strategic in your relations with others? To take sides or avoid taking sides in a factionalized situation? Is It Ethical? To "pay" people with tradeoffs for access to their lives and minds? To "use" people as allies or informants in order to gain entrée to other people or to elusive understandings? Quick Quiz 1. _________________ describes when the subjects of social research may react to the fact of being studied, thus altering their behavior from what it would have been normally. A. B. C. D. reactivity sensitivity hyperactivity all of these choices Answer: A Reactivity describes when the subjects of social research may react to the fact of being studied, thus altering their behavior from what it would have been normally. 2. The naturalist approach is based on telling “their” stories the way they “really are,” not the way the ethnographer understands “them.” A. B. True False Answer: True • The naturalist approach is based on telling “their” stories the way they “really are,” not the way the ethnographer understands “them.” 3. In a ____________, typically 12 to 15 people are brought together to engage in a guided discussion of some topic. A. B. C. D. classroom focus group micro study none of these choices Answer: B In a focus group, typically 12 to 15 people are brought together to engage in a guided discussion of some topic.