Participant observation Flashcards
What is participant observation?
- The researcher steps into the world of the studied
- You do not just study their life from the outside, you participate in peoples life
What is the five elements of participant observation?
- Observation must be conducted first-hand by the researcher
- Immersion must be relatively long - from days to years.
- Obsrvation must happen in the groups natural habit. Never in artificial sorroundings, that are made in order to carry out the project.
- Interaction with the group/person studied
- Aim is to describe and “understand” (Meaning the Weberian “verstahen”). Verstehen = understanding the world throught the actors point of view
When is participation most used?
- Phenomena is not well known
- View of inserders is less nown that that of outsiders
- Their views are rejected by the main grup – for instance terrorists, drug-dealers, gangs.
What is the three steps/stages Orsini took in his participation study?
- Approach – getting acces. Took three and a half year.
- Entry: Spend time with the group. Took four months.
- Departure: (One year)
What are the two different kinds of participant observation?
- Overt and covert
- Overt:
o People are aware that they are being studied.
o Pros: Lack of ethical issues. More safe.
o Cons: Unnatural behaviour - Covert:
o People are not aware that they are being studied
o Pros: Genuine behavior
o Cons: Danger and ethical issues
What are the two different kinds of participant observation?
- Overt and covert
- Overt:
o People are aware that they are being studied.
o Pros: Lack of ethical issues. More safe.
o Cons: Unnatural behaviour - Covert:
o People are not aware that they are being studied
o Pros: Genuine behavior
o Cons: Danger and ethical issues
What should you take notes on?
- Your observations
- Your interpretations
- The groups interpretation of the events.
What is the difference between community studies and studies of subcultures?
- Community studies = what anthropologists might do in isolated groups with no contact to the surrounding world. Study isolated groups.
- Subcultures = studying for instance a specific youth culture/group in a city. Opposes the surrounding society. Also what Orisini does.
What is a cultural mediator?
- A person who can help you gain acces. A trusted member of the group, who can give you legitimacy but also understands what you are doing as a researcher.
What is the difference between formal and informal groups?
- Informal: You know someone in a group, who can let you in. For instance in a subculture.
- Formal: If you wish to study a work-place. You need to gain formal acces, be employed and so on. In this case you need more than a cultural mediator, you also need formal acces.
Is it important to be trusted in the group? How can this cause a problem/dilemma?
- Yessss
- It can be a problem, if you get too integrated in the group. This is called the problem of “excessive identification”. If you get a non-observing participant instead of a participant observer.
What is described in “A Day Among the Diehard Terrorists: The Psychological Costs of Doing Ethnographic Research”?
- What a die-hard terrorist is, how you approach them and get to study them, and the potential following psychological consequences.
What is a diehard terrorist?
- Four elements:
- Faith in violence - they cherish their killings, even if they are in prison.
- The “identification of evil” - seperate people into the “good” and the “bad”
- Love for a social category - They identify with a certain group, whom they belive they are doing their best for
- Absolute faith in ideals - “Communism is not death”
What two kinds of ethnographic research exists?
Open observation
Explicit observtion
Better interviews, because dont have to hide identity.
The “sociolog paradox” - people behaviour might change when they now they are being observed
Covert observation
Can catch actual behaviour
This is what Orisini explains in the article, when he tries to approach Maria and asks her if she knows any red brigade members, that he can meet. Because he is afraid, that people might think, he is an undercover policemand, he decides to go from covert to open observation, and reveal, that he is a sociologist.
How does a researcher approach/contact a terror-group?
- Google - took 12 months
- On field - study of the environment. Try to find a spot to take notes without being suspicious. Awareness of the surroundings. Adopting a natural behaviour.
- Contact - “Autograph approch”: The importance of gaining trust and not adopt a hurried behaviour. Building relations with other people: introducing Maria.
