ANTH 705 Essay

Participant observation among other ethnographic research methods had been briefly
introduced to me in my first year of university. However, in my second year I did a module
called social psychology. Furthermore, within this module there was a great amount of focus
on the different forms of ethnographic research methods particularly participant observation
which resulted in me being interested in it. Therefore, this essay will explain what is
participant observation, how is it used to assist researchers within ethnographic research.
Furthermore, it will also explain why it interests me as well as the main aspects of the method
that are of interest to me such as covert and overt observation, the aspects about it that I
would like to be highlighted followed by a conclusion .

Within my undergraduate studies I had been introduced to the various methods of

ethnographic research. However, I had taken special interest in the method of participant
observation. Thus, participant observation is said to be a qualitative method of which is
believed to have roots in traditional ethnographic research (Bernard, 2006). Therefore,
participant observation is basically going into a community or space in an attempt to discover
aspects of the given social scene that is said to have rules as well as norms that participants
may experience without having to explicitly speak about it. Therefore, through active
participation and extensive analysis researchers gain a better understanding of this once
vague social setting or society (Spradley, 1980). Moreover, the objectives of this method is
said to assist researchers with regards to learning the perspectives held by the populations
under study. In addition, it is acknowledged that there are multiple perspectives within any
given community. Therefore, researchers tend to be interested in knowing what are these
diverse perspectives are as well as in understanding them. Therefore, qualitative researchers
are believed to accomplish this by using participant observation methods which enables them
to either observe alone or both observe and participate in the community under study’s daily
activities (Bernard, 2006).

For instance a researcher will go into a rural area in KZN and start to observe individuals
within that particular rural setting. In addition, they are bound to discover aspects that were
previously unknown to individuals that did not form part of that community. Therefore, the
researcher will document their findings in various ways and proceed to write about these
findings to inform “outsiders” and perhaps assist the actual community members to learn
more about their own community. Therefore, this ethnographic method of research had
interested me for a variety of reasons (Spradley, 1980).
However, I shall focus on the main reason. In addition, researchers that make use of this
ethnographic method as previously mentioned often have to go into different communities
usually to discover the previously unknown to outsiders. However, the manner in which they
do this is of major interest to me. The question of whether researchers should reveal their
identities to their subjects or should they conceal it a question that has always caught my
attention. In addition, it has been said that when researchers reveal their true identities
generally the way in which individuals act changes almost completely (Jorgensen, 1989). For
instance, a researcher enters a lecture hall to observe the manner in which students behave
whilst lectures are proceeding. However, when the students acknowledge the presence
researcher they are more than likely to alter their behaviour in order to please the researcher.
For instance, if they were loud and usually rude they would then become quiet and well
behaved in the presence of the researcher this is known as the researcher effect.

Alternatively, within the same scenario if the researcher just entered the lecture hall without
revealing their identities and acted as if they were just as student they would then be able to
see the true behaviour of the students. Therefore, this reveals that when the researcher’s
identity is concealed they are more than likely to yield great results from their subjects.
However, when their identities are revealed they get altered and non-realistic results.
Therefore, it is made evident that if an individual would like to get proper results this is made
possible when ones identity is concealed however, the question of ethics comes into play. In
addition, the invasion of one’s privacy is considered to be unethical. Therefore, in order to
study individuals there should be some informed consent, an explanation of the purpose of
the study, the researchers identity ought to be revealed and so forth this is considered to be
essential with regards participant observation and research in general. However, in my
opinion this is not necessary in all cased.

For instance, observing the behaviour of individuals in a public space is not an invasion of
privacy due to the fact that anyone can observe them due because they had entered the place
willingly. Therefore, these individuals were not pursued by the researcher. However, I
believe that issues such as sexuality, HIV/AIDS status and alike should be respect and such
matters ought to be consented to. However, general observances such as the behaviour of
students in a lecture hall, the interactions of individuals eating in a restaurant in my opinion
do not require consent. Therefore, with regards to the ethics in participant observation,
consent in my opinion should be based on the severity of the issue under study simply for the
quality and richness of information.

To conclude, participant observation is a qualitative method used by researchers in order to

study societies whose customs, norms and behaviours were previously unknown by the
“outsider”. In addition, the question of ethics with regards to overt and covert methods of
obtaining data should be reconsidered with regards to the severity of the topic at hand.
Bibliography:

Bernard, H. R. (2006). Research methods in anthropology. Lanham, MD: Altamira Press.

Jorgensen D. Participant Observation. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1989.

Spradley, J. P. (1980). Participant observation. New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.