Participant Observation By Amy Yeomans What Is Participant
Participant Observation By. Amy Yeomans
What Is Participant Observation? It is a qualitative method whose objective it is to help researchers learn perspectives held by study populations. As qualitative researchers we can presume that there will be many perspectives among a community. We are interested in knowing what they are and understanding the interplay among them. We do this by observation or by both observation and a small amount of participation.
What Can We Learn From Participant Observation? It is a useful tool to understand physical, social, cultural and economic context in which the participants live, the relationship between people and people’s behaviors. You can also learn a lot about the local culture by observing the local people.
Disadvantages of Participant Observation The biggest disadvantage is that it is time consuming. Another is that it is hard to write down all the important things as you are observing. The last one is that you have to be objective so it is important to write down what you are seeing an hearing but do not interprete.
Ethical Guidelines When doing an observation you should not give to much information about who you are and what you are doing so you don’t change any behavior the participant may do and therefore getting corrupt data. You need to be careful about giving away to much personal information on any of your participants without their permission.
Styles of Communication, both the sending and receiving of messages, is an integral part of culture. It is practically impossible to send a message that does not have any cultural content.
Indirect Communication Indirect context refers to the amount of innate and largely unconscious understanding a person can be expected to bring to a particular communication setting. People indirectly say what they mean so you need to read between the lines.
Direct Communication Having a more direct communication style leads you to have less to be assumed about other people. People in these types of cultures prefer independence, self-reliance and a greater emotional distance from each other. People say exactly what they mean so you don’t need to read between the lines.
Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication can be broken down into many sub categories. The categories include gestures, eye contact, conversational style, facial expressions, personal space and touching. Gestures – Watch what people do with their arms, hands and their whole body. Eye Contact – Watch the degree and nature of eye contact between different groups of people in different situations.
Nonverbal Communication Conversational Style – Observe how much gesturing goes on, the transition from one speaker to the next, how long does one person speak before they let the other person speak and what is the pattern of eye contact between the people having the conversation. Facial Expressions – Observe what people do with their mouth, eyes, head and nose. Personal Space – How close people stand to each other when conversing.
Nonverbal Communication Con. Touching – How much and where two people touch each other when conversing. The meaning of gestures, eye contact, and conversational patterns may be different from your own culture then in the host culture.
Concept of Time Monochronic - The needs of people are adjusted to suit the demands of time, schedules, deadlines, etc. A limited amount of time is available. People do one thing at a time and finish it before starting something else. Polychronic - Time is adjusted to suit the needs of people. More time is always available, and you are never too busy. People often have to do several things simultaneously, as required by circumstances. It’s not necessary to finish one thing before starting another.
Concept of Power High Power Distance - People in these cultures accept that inequalities in power are natural and in the same way they accept that some people will have more power and influence than others. Low Power Distance - People in these cultures see inequalities in power as not natural so those with power, therefore, tend to deemphasize it.
Attitude Towards Uncertainty High Uncertainty Avoidance - Cultures characterized by high uncertainty avoidance feel especially anxious about the uncertainty in life and try to limit and control it as much as possible. People take comfort in structure, systems, and expertise. Low Uncertainty Avoidance - People in these cultures do not feel threatened nor anxious about uncertainty. They seek to legislate fewer areas of human interaction and tolerate differences better. They are curious and not frightened by the unknown and are not uncomfortable leaving things to chance.
The Source of Status Achieved Status - In these doing cultures, people are looked up to and respected because of their personal and professional accomplishments. You get ahead by virtue of your achievements and performance. Your status is earned and while education is important it’s not the only fact of it; you have to have done something with your knowledge.
The Source of Status Ascribed Status - In these being cultures, a certain amount of status is built into the person so it is automatic and therefore difficult to lose. You are looked up to because of the family and social class you are born into, because of your affiliations with certain groups, and, later, because of your age and seniority. The school you went to and the amount of education you received also confer status. You are pressured to justify the power, respect and deference that you automatically enjoy.
The Locus of Control Internal - The locus of control is largely internal, within the individual. There are no limits on what I can do or become, so long as I set my mind to it and make the necessary effort. Life is what I do. External - The locus of control is largely external to the individual. Some aspects of life are predetermined, built into the nature of things. There are limits beyond which we cannot go and certain givens that cannot be changed and must be accepted. Life is in large part what happens to me.
Quotes “Some social situations require body contact between members of the same sex. This entails being held by the elbow, kissing on both cheeks, being kissed on the hand, talking at unnaturally close range, or occasionally holding little fingers. ” -PCV Afghanistan “It’s just not in their culture to tell or even suggest what they think you should do. Even when you are asking for advice, I don’t think they feel comfortable giving it. The direct American style is often taken as impolite. ” -PCV Papua New Guniea
Quotes 2 “As Americans, we think we can pretty much do whatever we set our minds to. In Romania, things operate more [cautiously]. There is a great fear of risk. ” -PCV Romania
Culture Matters – The Peace Corps Cross– Cultural Workbook By. Craig Storti, Laurette Bennhold-Samaan, and the U. S. Peace Corps. Chapters 3 and 4 Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector’s Field Guide By. Natasha Mack, Cynthia Woodsong, Kathleen M. Mac. Queen, Greg Guest, Emily Namey
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