Participant observation method
While it is the most challenging qualitative method of collecting data, participant observation method is the most natural and the best way that researchers can immerse themselves in a culture without contaminating the field (Shah, 2017). Participant observation method, also referred to as ethnographic research allows a researcher to be part of the study group, connect with most basic human experiences and enables discovery through immersion and participation. It puts a researcher in an excellent position to understand the whys and hows of human behaviors in their natural context. The researcher in the participant observation method is a subjective participant and objective observer, implying that they must wisely play two essential but separate roles at the same time. This is necessary, in most cases, to ensure that the study group is unaware of the researcher’s primary objective. Usually, the study group will act and behave differently once the field is contaminated (Jorgensen, 2020). This can hinder discovery and analysis of numerous and relevant aspects in the social context that are fueled by some set norms and rules that participants in most cases experience without speaking about, or are a taboo to talk about or operate in some automatic way.
According to Spradley (2016), researchers in the participant observation method need to at least systematize and organize some objective and subjective fluid process. They must be part of the social milieu; blend with the culture and do whatever it takes to make the participants comfortable and free with their presence. They will have to live within the study group, become part of it and must live as a regular member for some time. At the same time, they must fulfill researcher’s role such as take notes, record and store voices and behaviors in the wisest ways while carefully asking targeted questions to uncover the study questions and confirm study assumptions. Harnessing this innate ability might be challenging but is compulsory to make gain acceptance into the culture and conceal researcher’s true intentions to allow generation of comprehensive, natural and meaningful data that will add value to the collective understanding of the human experience.
Response
Active participation is mandatory to gather qualitative data while cautiously preserving the field. The best way to ensure active involvement is to wisely engage with the participants to gain acceptance into their culture and make them comfortable with your presence. While ethnographic research can sometimes be intrusive, it depends on the researcher’s presentation and the extent to which they can blend with the participants in their natural context. Therefore, it is possible to be accepted and gather qualitative data without the participants knowing the researcher’s true intentions even in the most intrusive ethnographic research.
