Includes bibliographical references (pages 251-264) and index.
Contents:
Sample field notes from three projects. Learning to be a participant observer : theoretical issues -- Doing participant observation : becoming a participant -- The costs of participation : culture shock -- Doing participant observation : becoming an observer -- Gender and sex issues in participant observation -- Designing research with participant observation -- Informal interviewing in participant observation -- Writing field notes -- Analyzing field notes -- Ethical concerns in participant observation -- Appendix: Sample field notes from three projects.
Summary:
"Participant observation is the foundation of ethnographic research design and supports and complements other types of qualitative and quantitative data collection. Qualitative research in such diverse areas as anthropology, sociology, education, medicine draws on the insights gained through the use of participant observation. The authors have written a guide to the collection of systematic data in naturalistic settings - communities in many different cultures - to achieve an understanding of the most fundamental processes and patterns of social life. This book serves as a basic primer for the beginning researcher and as a useful reference and guide for experienced researchers in many fields who wish to reexamine their own skills and abilities in light of best practices of participant observation. This new edition includes discussions of participant observation in nontypical settings, such as the Internet, participant observation in applied research, and ethics of participant observation. It also explores in greater depth the use of computer-assisted analysis of textual data in issues of sampling and in linking method with theory"--Publisher's website.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.