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Week 6:Participant Observation

Sarah Kennedy

Sarah.kennedy.2009@nuim.ie

Office HourTuesday @ 10 (B.4).

mailto:Sarah.kennedy.2009@nuim.iemailto:Sarah.kennedy.2009@nuim.ie

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Feedback

Exam questions

Assignments

Group Work

PowerPoint Slides and Blog

Pace

Tutorial Outline

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Participant Observation

Advantages

Insider understandingon

their terms.

Useful for researching a

culture, context, or setting.

What people say they do

vs. what they actually do.

Rich, in-depth data.

Disadvantages

Time consuming.

Context specific (not

generalizable).

Dependent on memory

and researchers

interpretations.

Getting access can be

problematic.

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First person approaches the stand at about 09.30. He seems to be in his mid to late

sixties, and is dressed in a suit and tie. He hovers around the stand for a couple of

seconds before Danielle asks him if he would like to sign our mailing list. He replies that

he would like some information as to what Marriage Equality is about. Danielle proceedsto guide him through the different literature available, from summaries of the

organisation to a report on the differences between marriage and civil partnership from a

legal perspective. The literature is laid out across two tables which are at the two open

sides of the stall. Myself and Fiona observe as Danielle tends to the man. He takes a

copy of each piece of literature, nodding as Danielle explains to him what each entails,

however not actually speaking himself. Myself and Fiona remain quiet yet engaged

allowing Danielle to take the lead. I was particularly attentive as this was the first person

to approach the stand and I wanted to learn from example how to negotiate the process

of explaining the organisation and literature. When Danielle had finished giving him

literature she asks him if he would like to join our mailing list to keep updated. He then

took a step back, and said Im heterosexual, and proceeded to tell us that he would be

considered anti-gay, and that he is also what one would call extremely right-wing.

Myself, Danielle and Fiona briefly glance at each other before turning back. The manthen reached into his pocket and took out a business card and handed it to Danielle.

The card was for the public affairs manager for the Church of Jesus Christ and the

Latter Day saints. All three of us look up however say nothing. He explains to us that he

took the literature as he likes to know what he is up against. All of us remain quiet,

heeding the advice Danielle gave us this morning. I find this very difficult. He goes on to

explain that he is not as right wing as we may think. He then winks, picks up his

literature and walks away.

Fianna Fil rd Fheis - 2012

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Taking Field Notes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtaEkJrsAechttp://assessment.aas.duke.edu/documents/ParticipantObservationFieldGuide.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtaEkJrsAec

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Weeks 7 & 8?

Information from lectures.

Assignment 3.

Long Questions.

Types of Research Design e.g. cohort, panel etc.

Sampling

???