A participant-as-observer

3. If it is not practical or even possible to become a complete participant in a group, a researcher may choose to become a participant-as-observer. In this role, researchers inform subjects of the study being done and try to participate in the group as much as possible. Most field researchers prefer this role, largely because it is less deceptive. An example of this kind of research is William Foote Whyte’s Street Corner Society, a classic study of Italian-American working class men living in a slum area of Boston. Whyte’s investigation relied on his being accepted into the lives of these men. He soon realized that gaining the support of a few key people was the best approach. He eventually became friends with one of the group’s leaders, “Doc,” who introduced him to others until he gradually gained access and was accepted. He could never be bona fide member of the street-corner group because he was a sociologist doing research, but he established a degree of intimacy that provided the required insider status. Doc and a few other group members served as informants, becoming partners in Whyte’s research and giving him information about what the men said and did in his absence. Whyte’s research showed that the city “slum” is an organized community of kinship, friendship, neighborhood associations, and distinctive values that serve as anchor to those who live there.

Combination of the Aspects

3. Another role for field researchers combines aspects of the complete participant and participant-as-observer roles. In this role the researcher does not have to become a member of the group under study because she or he already is a member of their group.

4. When Julius Roth found himself confined to a hospital as a long-term tuberculosis patient, he turned adversity into an advantage and saw his hospital bed as a “good observation post.” Unknown to staff and fellow patients, he carried out study of the social structure of the hospital. It is a good example of both the theory and the method of field research. Qualitative research through participant observation allows for theory construction and hypothesis development that in turn can be tested later through quantitative research.

Comprehension Check

1. Answer the following questions on the text:

1. What are the advantages of the participant observation method?

2. The author gives three examples of the researchers acting as participant observers. What are they?

3. Why was Judith Rollins uncomfortable with the ethics of her research?

4. Who helped W.F.Whyte carry on his research?

5. How did J.Roth happen to become the inside participant?

2. Choose the best Russian equivalent for the title

1. Участник наблюдения

2. Наблюдательный участник

3. Наблюдение в качестве участника процесса

4. Принимать участие в процессе наблюдения

What do you call a researcher engaged in participant observation?

Vocabulary work

3. Match the words and expressions from the text in A with their

Russian equivalents in B:

witness engage firsthand take on accepted status interact with subjects severely compromise research gain deception low-income women benefit gain support gain access bona fide member establish a degree of intimacy kinship neighborhood associations distinctive values turn adversity into advantage qualitative research quantitative research

результаты исследования заручиться поддержкой особые ценности подвергать серьезному риску принести пользу установить определенную степень близости (доверия) быть свидетелем женщины с низким доходом обратить несчастье себе на пользу приобретать общепринятое общественное положение настоящие член (группы) получит доступ добрососедские связи принимать непосредственное участие качественный анализ взаимодействовать с объектом исследования родство количественный анализ обман