Participant observation : a practical field guide for students and lecturers /
This SAGE case study demonstrates the practical application of participant observation as a research methodology, in its use by students during an undergraduate field-trip module. Participant observation requires researchers to engage in the "systematic description" of events and interacti...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
London :
SAGE Publications Ltd,
2021.
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| Series: | SAGE research methods cases
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Connect to the full text of this electronic book |
| Summary: | This SAGE case study demonstrates the practical application of participant observation as a research methodology, in its use by students during an undergraduate field-trip module. Participant observation requires researchers to engage in the "systematic description" of events and interactions, as framed by a research question, to produce a rich and detailed record of the observed reality. Furthermore, researchers are required to adopt one of four available participant observation roles: Complete Participant, Participant-as-Observer, Observer-as-Participant, and Complete Observer, each with role-specific opportunities and limitations. The case study offers examples of observations collected and recorded by students during a field-trip module in New York City, as part of their final year undergraduate research project. It also showcases the value of participant observation in enabling students to collect rich primary data in the presence of research limitations, such as narrow time-scales for data collection, reduced access to research participants, or limited access to data. Although typically requiring prolonged (6-12 months) fieldwork, this case study provides strategies for educators to successfully implement and teach participant observation over much shorter timescales, in this case, in the course of a week of in situ engagement. |
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| Physical Description: | 1 online resource. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN: | 9781529759266 1529759269 |