COM 381 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Participant Observation, Ethnography
21 May 2020
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Document Summary
A qualitative method of data collection that aims to observe, interact and understand people while they are in a natural environment. For example, nature conservationists observe behavior of animals in their natural surroundings and the way they react to certain scenarios. Key to finding a feature of field research: field observation involves direct observation. Entails the researcher is seeing what is going on as it unfolds, experiences: field observation takes place in naturalistic setting, not artificial, researcher is hands off, no variable to manipulate only natural environments. A research technique whereby the researcher watches the subjects of his or her study, with their knowledge, but without taking an active part in the situation under scrutiny. It offers contextual data on settings, interactions, or individuals. Unobtrusive observation - holding back and observing what is taking place. Behaviors observed during direct observation may be unusual or atypical. Nonparticipant observer makes conscious decisions about what to observe, what to record, and how.
