CHAPTER 10, QUALITATIVE FIELD RESEARCH

Chapter Outline  Topics Appropriate to Field Research  Special Consideration in Qualitative Field Research  Some Qualitative Field Research Paradigms  Conducting Qualitative Field Research  Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Field Research  Ethics and Qualitative Field Research  Quick Quiz

Topics Appropriate for Field Research  Topics that defy simply quantification  Attitudes and behaviors best understood in their natural setting  Social processes over time

 Elements of Social Life Appropriate to Field Research  Practices  Episodes  Encounters  Roles and Social Types  Social and Personal Relationships  Groups and Cliques  Organizations  Settlements and Habitats  Social Worlds  Subcultures and Lifestyles

Special Considerations in Qualitative Field Research  Roles of the Observer  Participant, Researcher, Observer Reactivity – The problem that the subjects of social research may react to the fact of being studied, thus altering their behavior from what it would have been normally.  Relations to Subjects  Objectivity  Alien / Martian  Reflexivity

Some Qualitative Field Research Paradigms  Naturalism  Ethnomethodology  Grounded Theory  Case Studies  Institutional Ethnography  Participatory Action Research

 Naturalism – An approach to field research based on the assumption that an objective social reality exists and can be observed and reported accurately.  Ethnography – A report on social life that focuses on detailed and accurate description rather than explanation.

 Ethnomethodology – An approach to the study of social life that focuses on the discovery of implicit, usually unspoken assumptions and agreement.

 Grounded Theory – an inductive approach to the study of social life that attempts to generate a theory from the constant comparing of unfolding observations.  Guidelines: Think conservatively Obtain multiple viewpoints Periodically step back Maintain an attitude of skepticism Follow the research procedures

 Case Studies – The in-depth examination of a single instance of some social phenomenon.  Extended Case Method – A technique in which case study observations are used to discover flaws in and to improve existing social theories.

 Institutional Ethnography – A research technique in which the personal experiences of individuals are used to reveal power relationships and other characteristics of the institution within which they operate.

 Participatory Action Research – An approach to social research in which the people being studied are given control over the purpose and procedures of the research.  Emancipatory Research – Research conducted for the purpose of benefiting disadvantaged groups.

Conducting Qualitative Field Research  Preparing for the Field  Be familiar with relevant research  Discuss your plans with others in the area  Identify and meet informants (when appropriate) First impressions are important Establish rapport (an open and trusting relationship)  Ethical considerations

 Qualitative Interview – Contrasted with survey interviewing, the qualitative interview is based on a set of topics to be discussed in depth rather than based on the use of standardized questions.  “Miner” or “Traveler”

 Stages in Complete Interviewing Process 1. Thematizing 2. Designing 3. Interviewing 4. Transcribing 5. Analyzing 6. Verifying 7. Reporting

 Focus Group – A group of subjects interviewed together, prompting a discussion.  Advantages: real-life data, flexible, high degree of face validity, fast, inexpensive  Disadvantages: not representative, little interviewer control, difficult analysis, interviewer/moderator skills, difficult logistically

 Recording Observations  Take detailed notes, but balance with observations  Rewrite notes with observations soon after observations with filled in details  Record empirical observations and interpretations  Record everything  Anticipate observations

Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Field Research  Strengths of Qualitative Field Research  Effective for studying subtle nuances in attitudes and behaviors and social processes over time  Flexibility  Inexpensive  Weaknesses of Qualitative Field Research  No appropriate statistical analyses

 Validity  Greater validity than survey and experimental measurements  Reliability  Potential problems with reliability

Quick Quiz

1. When you use field research, you’re confronted with: A. decisions about the role you’ll play as an observer B. your relationship with the people you are observing C. both of the above choices D. neither of the above choices

Answer: C. When you use field research, you’re confronted with decisions about the role you’ll play as an observer and your relationship with the people you are observing.

2. _____ is an old tradition in qualitative research based on the assumption that an objective social reality exists and can be observed and reported accurately. A. Naturalism B. Ethnography C. Ethnomethodology

Answer: A. Naturalism is an old tradition in qualitative research based on the assumption that an objective social reality exists and can be observed and reported accurately.

3. _____ describes when the subject of social research may react to the fact of being studied, thus altering their behavior from what it would have been normally. A. Reactivity B. Sensitivity C. Hyperactivity

ANSWER: A. Reactivity describes when the subject of social research may react to the fact of being studied, thus altering their behavior from what it would have been normally.

4. In a _____, typically people are brought together to engage in a guided discussion on some topic. A. classroom B. focus group C. micro study

ANSWER: B. In a focus group, typically people are brought together to engage in a guided discussion on some topic.

5. In comparison to surveys and experiments, field research has: A. high validity and high reliability. B. high validity and low reliability. C. low validity and high reliability. D. low validity and low reliability.

ANSWER: B. In comparison to surveys and experiments, field research has high validity and low reliability.