Food system as a frame (Session 1) - Uni Hohenheim¾ Goffman, E. (1956): The presentation of self in everyday life. University of Edinburgh Social Sciences Research Centre. (dt. Wir

Rural Sociology with Gender

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Participant Observation

Jana Rückert-John


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William F. Whyte “Street Corner Society”Participant observation – a first definitionEthnography and observationsWhen to use observationsAdvantages and disadvantages of participant observationParticipant observation problems How to do a participant observation?

Agenda


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William Foote Whyte – Pioneer in participant observation (1914-2000)

“Street Corner Society. The social structure of an Italian slum” (1943)

AimsThe studyResultsSpecial features of the studyCriticism

First Examples


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Participant observation is a method of data collection that attempts to understand the motives and meanings involved in people’s behaviour from the point of view of the participant.

“Naturalistic” methodInteractionist perspective

Definition


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Social scientists do something extra with their observation: They write ethnographies

‘ethno’ means ‘folk’‘graph’ derives from ‘writing’

The pioneers of ethnography were anthropologists (19th century)

Ethnography and Observation


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1. Studies of tribesMalinowski (1922): Trobriand Islanders in the Western PacificMary Douglas’s (1951-1963) work on a central African tribe

2. Studies of subcultures“Chicago School” (1930s) – Robert Park, Ernest Burgess

3. Studies of the public realmGoffman’s (1950s) study of the Shetland Islanders

4. Studies of organisationsGoffman’s (1961) book Asylum

The Ethnographic Focus


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1. “Seeing through the eyes of people being studied”

2. Description of mundane details3. Contextualism: social and historical

context4. Process of social life5. Flexible research designs6. Avoiding early use of theories and

concepts

Aims of observational research

Source: Bryman, A. 2004


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Types of information for which observations are a good sourceSettingHuman, social environmentNonverbal communicationNative languageNotable non-occurrences

When to use observations


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Two kinds of research setting:1. ‘closed’ or ‘private’ settings2. ‘open’ or ‘public’ settingsTwo kind of research access:1. Overt – participants aware of researcher’s

intensions2. Covert –researcher’s identity not disclosed

Most ethnography is overtBut blurred boundary between overt and covert roles

Gaining Access

What is my identity in the field?


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The roles of observer

Full participant and identificationFull participation, no possibility for scientifically detached observation

Participant as observerPrimary participant, secondary observer (“going native”)

Observer as participantMissing identification

Outside observer or spectatorGive up the role of participant Problem of misunderstanding

Role conflict of the researcher between ‘Participant’ and ‘Observer’

Source: Gold, R. L. (1958)


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The covert role of observer

AdvantagesObviates the need to negotiate accessReactivity is not a problem

DisadvantagesPractical difficulties in taking notesCannot use other methodsAnxiety about ‘blowing your cover’Ethical problems (deception)


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Access to closed settings (overt role)

negotiating access requires “strategic planning, hard work and dumb luck” (Van Maanen & Kolb, 1985: 11)

use friends, colleagues and contacts to help youget support from ‘sponsors’ within the groupgain clearance from higher level ‘gatekeepers’offer something in return (e.g. a report)be clear and honest about your aims and methods


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Access to open settings (overt role)

Problem: hostility and distrust from members are possible Key informants (sponsor/gatekeeper)

e.g. Whyte (1981) ‘Doc’

‘Hanging around’ – practice a normal behaviour


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Try not to influence the field by your observationObserve correctly and perceive in an undistorted mannerBehave so, that a further observation is possible (no exclusion) Preserve your acceptance in the observation field Practice an ordinary (normal) behaviour: a mix of conformity and nonconformity

Behaviour of the observer


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Advantages of participant observation

A rich source of high-quality informationResearcher can understand the social pressures / influences / group norms Flexible approach, researcher does not pre-judge the issueFormulate and test hypothesesResearch produces a depth of detailed information


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Disadvantages of participant observation

Researcher has to learn the culture of a group. It is not always easy or possible.Restricted to small-scale studies; carried out over a long time periodNo representativeness and generalisationProblems of access to all levels of a groupGreat deal of skill and commitment from the researcher


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Write down notes as soon as possible after events (memory protocols)Write up full notes at the end of every day (“field diary”)

Detailed descriptionsGradually narrow your focus

Dictaphone can be less obtrusiveTypes of field notes

Mental notesWritten notes

Recording observational data


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Example: Organic supermarkets


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Students project: participant observation in organic supermarkets

Context of the projectResearch questionResearch process

Development of an observation scheduleCarry out the observationAnalysing and results



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Observation field:The location, the social space of observation

Organic and conventional supermarkets

Observation units:are social situations or in general objects of the observation

Observation field, notice ability of the store, presentations of products, quality and quantity of products, clients

Observation schedule:Is the plan, which says what, how and where will be observed by the observer

See extra paper!



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Recording observationsDo not use electronic recording equipment!Field notes:

Simulation of a small shopping list for the notesWrite down notes as soon as possible after events

AnalysingIntra-case analysisCross-case analysis (based on rating scales)



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Observation fieldAppearance of the storeQuality of productsPresentation of productsClients

Some results of the study


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Disadvantages and advantages of the study

It’s more a structured observation.The potential of a qualitative observation was not exploited.

But: The study generated some interesting questions for further research.


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Bryman, A. (2004): Social Research Methods. Second Edition. Oxford University Press. Chapter 14.Whyte, W. (1981): Street Corner Society. Third Edition. University of Chicago Press.Silverman, D. (2001): Interpreting Qualitative Data. Methods for Analysing Talk, Text and Interaction. Second Edition. Sage Publications. Chapter 3.Gold, R. L. (1958): Roles in Sociological Fieldwork, Social Forces, 36: 217-223. Malinowski, B. (1922): Argonauts of the Western Pacific.Douglas, M. (1963): The Lele of Kasai. London: Oxford University Press. Park, R.; McKenzie, R. D.; Burgess, E. (1925): The City: Suggestions for the Study of Human Nature in the Urban Environment. University of Chicago Press. Goffman, E. (1953): Communication conduct in an island community. Goffman, E. (1956): The presentation of self in everyday life. University of Edinburgh Social Sciences Research Centre. (dt. Wir alle spielen Theater)Goffman, E. (1961): Asylums. Essays on the Social Situation of Mental Patients and Other Inmates. New York, Doubleday.Van Maanen, J.; Kolb, D. (1985): ‘The Professional Apprentice: Observations on Fieldwork Roles in two Organisational Settings’, Research in the Sociology of Organisations, 4: 1-33.Giulianotti, R. (1995): ‘Participant Observation and Research into Football Hooliganism: Reflections on the Problems of Entrée and Everyday Risks’, Sociology of Sport Journal, 12: 1-20.

Literature

Documents

Food system as a frame (Session 1) - Uni Hohenheim¾ Goffman, E. (1956): The presentation of self in everyday life. University of Edinburgh Social Sciences Research Centre. (dt. Wir