Advantages Of Participant Observation

Ethnography is a qualitative method of research in which the researcher takes part in the activities of a group such that they are able to complete their observations over a period of time in a natural, real-life environment.

It is first important to define what ethnography is because it is a prominent method that social scientists use in their research (Roy, lecture 4). Professor Roy defines ethnography as looking at culture – a methodological skill of observation in a natural setting. Chambliss was able to do this with his qualitative research at Hanibal. Qualitative research, compared to quantitative, is often characterized by a depth of information from a limited number of cases (Ragin & Amoroso 28). This type of study relies on the human component of interaction in the real world. Chambliss actively engaged with

This ethnographic study started by developing a hypothesis to be tested using primary and secondary research. Research questions were instituted as a guide in the research process. The research questions were then used in unity with the research notes, so it would accept a

Public participation is an important aspect of any community and benefits realized from inculcating it in the system of any public setup treats any possible problem. Some of the core merits any public institution produces is enabling the community to participate in decision-making and planning. For this reason, they are more likely to interact with established mechanisms. Moreover, apart from helping bring about a sense of community, public participation enables institutions to set goals and objectives that suit that long-term service delivery. San Diego Unified district school is among the many educational centers in the United States that have embraced this useful method to warrant continuous progress. Therefore, they recently organized a school board meeting on 27th September 2016 to provide an update on what was going on in the institution as well give the public an opportunity to discuss their concerns and contributions. This paper analyzes the nature and role of public participation in uniting the community and institutions that serve its members. Evidently, although the meeting had some hitches in terms of short notices and low ethnic representation, it was successful because the community and the institution discussed agenda and non-agenda matters and settled for proposals to increase engagement in the future.

Participant observation is defined as first hand experience. Participant observation is a method developed by Anthropologists in the early 20th century. When Anthropologists noticed that in order to fully understand the question, “Why” in culture. Why do a certain people do this, why is that important, or why do they all do it, are just some of the questions anthropologists use participant observation. The key to participant observation is fieldwork, where the anthropologist actively lives with the people of the culture they are studying for about a year or more. Where the anthropologist goes through culture shock by leaving all their possessions at home and starting a new. This technique of studying gets the anthropologist to become one

When the ethnographic observation is conducted through covert observation, the data collected must allow the inadvertent participants to remain anonymous by creating fake names and avoiding faces when taking pictures. This will protect the results of the current study as well as my reputation for future studies.

The authors used participant observation and interview to do this research. I think the method of field work that provided the most insightful information was the method of participant observation. By

Macbeth is one of the many plays written by William Shakespeare. Throughout the course of five acts, we see the main character, Macbeth, is influenced by three main groups of people. His main influences are the three witches, Lady Macbeth, and his own personal ambitions. This essay will portray the way these characters and personal motives influence Macbeth.

To begin, the authors introduce their topic by conceptualizing conventional forms of ethnography, including its use of a researcher as a participant-observer in an unknown culture, and practices like interviews, surveys, informants, and settings (Martey and Shiflett, 5). With these developed practices, the authors’ main argument is to show

A type of qualitative research that allows study of real life behaviors is called participant observation. When conducting participant observation the researcher may actually participate as a functioning part of the unit or maintain a neutral position as an observer only. Maintaining neutrality can prove to be a challenge for some participating researchers. Berger reminds the interviewer to keep key questions in mind using who, what,when, where, and how. Fundamental factors in participant observation are the setting, participants, nature of the group, participants behavior, and frequencies of behavior. Observation is a path to obtaining information. Keep records of information by ways of annotation or through modern day technology with photography and video. Tally sheets can be used in recording types of behavior and the frequency in which they occur. Collected information will assist in the development and explanation of a hypothesis for the study.

In the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard there are many different themes that can be gleaned from the playoff of Hamlet. One of the main themes is the concept of fate. Fate, as defined by Random House Dictionary, is: something that unavoidably befalls a person (Fate). Rosencrantz and Guildenstern constantly deal with fate. It seems that they do not quite understand what this is. When discussing who dies with the Players Guildenstern asks, “Who decides?” to which the Player replies promptly, “Decides? It is written” (80). The player appears surprised that Guildenstern does not already comprehend that death, and the life before it is not something that is decided by

While this study may have not taken the ethnographic approach, which is more appropriate in such a situation, it is prudent to note that the qualitative – quantitative – qualitative sequence in analysis may have given it the near accurate results that is desired in the end. As such, it is great to note that the interviewer used more analyses than one in achieving the output of a more synthesized result. The barriers to using ethnography in this case are more related with the nature of the variable under study than any other factor. For instance, while studying poverty, it would be more difficult to have a researcher position themselves in a society well enough to experience the poverty. In light of this, it should be noted that the approach taken was the best since it positioned the researchers at a point where they could have the best data (Fink, 2000).

Observation is preferably one of the most commonly used methods of data collection, especially in the sociological research. More often than not, this method is employed so as to gain the much needed empirical information that is dependable in the sociological research undertakings. The methodology is comprehensively employed in the sociological imagination concept as a viable tool in the proper and reliable comprehension of social interactions.

Qualitative research methods are utilized to study the social and cultural phenomena. So it includes observation, participant observation (field work), interview sessions, documents and texts and finally the researcher’s imitations and feedback. [Myers, 2009]

This section will start with a comparison of three possible methodologies for data collection: ethnography, survey (or interview) and real time experience tracking. And then sampling and data collection methods will be examined followed by a description of data analysis.