Chapter 10

Qualitative Field Research

Chapter Outline

IntroductionTopics Appropriate to Field ResearchSpecial Considerations in Qualitative Field

ResearchSome Qualitative Field Research Paradigms

Chapter Outline

Conducting Qualitative Field ResearchStrengths and Weaknesses or Qualitative Field

Research Research Ethics in Qualitative Field ResearchStrengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Field

Research

Topics for Field Research

Attitudes and behaviors best understood in a natural setting

Social processes over time

Elements of Social Life Appropriate to Field Research

Practices: talking, reading a bookEpisodes: divorce, crime, illnessEncounters: people meeting and interactingRole: occupations, family rolesRelationships: friendships, family

Elements of Social Life Appropriate to Field Research

Groups: cliques, teams, work groupsOrganizations: hospitals, schoolsSettlements: neighborhoods, ghettoesSocial worlds: "wall street", "the sports world“Lifestyles (subcultures): urban, homeless

Field Research Paradigms

NaturalismEthnomethodologyGrounded theoryCase studies and the extended case methodInstitutional ethnographyParticipatory action research

Preparing for Field Work

1. Fill in your knowledge of the subject.2. Discuss the group you plan to research with

an informant.3. Develop an identity with the people to be

studied.4. Realize that your initial contact with the

group can influence your observations.

Question

• When you use field research, you’re confronted with:

A. decisions about the role you’ll play as an observerB. your relations with the people you’re observingC. both a and bD. none of these choices

When you use field research, you’re confronted with decisions about the role you’ll play as an observer, and your relations with the people

you’re observing.

Analyzing Existing Statistics

Can be the main source of data or a supplemental source of data.

Often existing data doesn't cover the exact question.

Reliability is dependent on the quality of the statistics.

Durkheim’s Study

Why do people kill themselves?• Failure• Love• DisgraceDurkheim found that suicide rates, with proportion

taken into consideration, were stable across nations. However, he found that individuals committed suicide

based on political upheaval and religion.

Durkheim’s Study

Units don’t have to be people.

• Dogs• Cats• Countries• Planets

Problems of Validity and Reliability

Validity• Data we want doesn’t

exactly cover what we want• Logical Reasoning• Replication

Reliability• Are the reports accurate?• Other factors• How far back records go?• Are they corrupt/biased?• Are there instances not

covered in the data?

Comparative and Historical Research

Involves the use of historical methods by sociologists, political scientists and other

social scientists.

Comparative and Historical Analysis

Cautions:1.Can't trust the accuracy of records - official or

unofficial, primary or secondary.2.Must be wary of bias in data sources.

Question

• Which of the following occurs when you obtain a copy of someone else’s data and undertake your own statistical analysis?

A. using quasi official statisticsB. using official statisticsC. secondary analysisD. none of these choices

Secondary analysis occurs when you obtain a copy of someone else’s data and undertake

your own statistical analysis.

Some Positive and Negative Aspects of Bureaucracy