SOC221H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Participant Observation, Tacit Knowledge, Explicit Knowledge
Document Summary
Nov, 26, 2015: roots in anthropology, ethnography. Participant observation : one of the roles you can take on during a study, complete observer- not immersing themselves in the activities and not participating. Less time needed to build trust and rapport and less risk of security. Less likely to get an insider experience and can lead to misrepresentations. Semi-participant participates but not to the same extent as a complete participant: complete- participant want to understand the participant, become fully immersed in the study. Doesn"t mean that you participate in all of their activities but you develop a strong rapport with the participants and they will observe all activities that the participants do. Data gathering may become difficult, hard to come up with a strong analysis: researchers have to make the decision of whether their research will be overt or covert. Ethnography - methodology that includes multiple research including field research.
