1.4.

2 Participatory Observation/Ethnography

It is a research methodology where the researcher is immersed

in the day-to –day activities of the participants.

Its main objective is to gain a deep understanding and

familiarity with a certain group of individuals, their values,
beliefs and way of life based on specific topic.
Types: 1. Overt: Involves the researcher being open
with the group who they are studying, the society is aware
that they are being researched because they are informed
by the researcher.
E.g. street corner society (1943) done by F. Whyte in Italy.

2. Covert: The researcher analyses the group

without them knowing that they are being researched. It
is carried out secretly.
E.g. Stigma(1968) done by Erving Goff man an athletic
director.
Participant observation includes casual conversations, in -depth informal unstructured interviews, structured
interviews, and questionnaires (Jorgensen 1989).

In order to understand 'the natives' point of view "the twin ideals of empathy and objectivity" (Nash 1996)
are required. Rapport and trust need to be established before data collection. Fieldwork roles are seen as
developmental, moving through a series of phases as the research progresses (Bernard
1988, Burgess 1984).
Methods to collect data

qualitative, inductive, explorative qualitative research and longitudinal.

The setting
The research approach where you look at people in their cultural setting, with
the goal of producing a narrative account of that particular culture, against a
theoretical backdrop.

Access and Initial Contact

As part of this we have to look at:
Deeds done as well as words used
How they interact with one another, and with their social and cultural
environment
What is not said as much as what is said
Language, and symbols, rituals and shared meanings that populate their world
 The Research Process

1.“Getting to know you’’

2.“Acceptance”,
3.“Imminent departure”

Community involvement will be the

guarantor of a
good and correct process
In my research case, Knowledge of the tourism system and decision-making
processes is essential. A balance between familiarity and rapport is
necessary. It needs to be ‘complete participant ‘as joining tours as a tourist
and keeping my research concealed as a ‘complete observer also. My
objective will be to make participant blend in the topic.
 "Dialogue is the backbone of participatory
observation.’’ Interviews are central to the
participant observation. Interviews, conversations
with a purpose, are subdivided into three types
depending on the degree of structure: Structured,
semi-structured and unstructured (Punch 1998, Frey
and Fontana 1994).
All types can be used at different times during the research process.
I can use structured interviews with personnel from various
government departments and Semi-structured interviews with key
individuals that I need to talk for spontaneous chats with. Some of
'Interviews' can be done in conversations or casual chats. I think it
is better to have non-hierarchical relationships between respondent
and researcher.
Participant observation involves two activities concurrently: the dual roles of
objective observer and subjective participant. Sometime, I may ask informants
to help me check and recheck data as I tried to make sense of my observations
or to double-check my interpretation of their voices, and to fill in gaps in my
data for “respondent validation.’’ On completion of the research I can facilitate
a one-day seminar with villagers, government officials and local guides for
detailed discussion about the topic and to thank them.