Participant Observation

Michael, Anna, Stacey, Laurisa, April

Our source

Mack, N., Woodsong, C., MacQueen, K.M., Guest, G. & Namey E. (2005). Participant Observation. In Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector's Field Guide. (pp. 13-28). Research Triangle Park, North Carolina: Family Health International

Download the chapter free from:

http://www.fhi.org/en/RH/Pubs/booksReports/QRM_datacoll.htm

Participant Observation is kind of like being ….

Mixed with a little of this …

What is Participant Observation?

• A qualitative method• Studies subjects in their own

environment• Uses unobtrusive methods like

writing observations in a field notebook

• Strives to be objective and understand the subject’s point of view

• Aims to be detailed and comprehensive

Methods of participant observation

• Creating diagrams, charts and maps

• Numerical data• Written, audio, photo and

video recordings• Interviews and

conversations• Can be done individually,

in pairs, or in teams• Can occur in a structured

or unstructured setting

Tips

• Develop relationships with stakeholders

• Engage in activities without calling attention to yourself

• Always keep your research questions in mind

• Do research on your subject before hand

• Consider alternative forms of data

• Distinguishing interpretation from observation

Example of interpretation vs. observation

Example of observation

At first the client sat very stiffly on the chair next to the receptionist's desk. She (client) picked up a magazine and let the pages flutter through her fingers very quickly without really looking at any of the pages. She then set the magazine down,

looked at her watch, tugged at her skirt, and picked up the magazine again. This time she didn't look at the magazine. She set it back down, took out a cigarette, and began smoking. She would watch the receptionist out of the corner of her eye, and

then look back down at the magazine, and back up at the two or three other people waiting in the room. Her eyes moved from

the people to the magazine to the cigarette to the people to the magazine in rapid succession. She avoided eye contact with anyone in the room. When her name was finally called by the

receptionist, she jumped up like she was startled.

Ethics to consider

confidentiality, consent, cultural context, disclosure

Weaknesses• Time-consuming• Documentation relies on memory, personal discipline,

and diligence of researcher• Requires conscious effort at objectivity because method

is inherently subjectiveStrengths• Allows for insight into contexts, relationships, behavior• Can provide information previously unknown to

researchers that is crucial for project design, data collection, and interpretation of other data

Is Participant Observation the right method for me?

Some Case Study Examples• Jeong, W. (2004). Unbreakable ethnic bonds: information seeking behavior

of Korean graduate students in the United States. Library and Information Science Research, 26(3), p. 384-400. Doi: 10.1016/j.lisr.2004.04.001

• Tin, K. and Al-Hawamdeh, S. (2002). The changing role of paraprofessionals in the knowledge economy. Journal of Information Science, 28(4), p. 331-343.

• Gross, M., Dresang, E., and Holt, L. (2004). Children’s in-library use of computers in an urban public library. Library and Information Science Research, 26(3), p. 311-337. Doi: 10.1016/j.lisr.2004.04.002

• Chatman, E. (1986). Diffusion theory: a review and test of a conceptual model in information diffusion. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 37(6), p. 377-386.