Chapter 10 Qualitative Field Research

Chapter Outline Introduction Topics Appropriate to Field Research Special Considerations in Qualitative Field Research Some Qualitative Field Research Paradigms

Introduction

Topics Appropriate to Field Research

Special Considerations in Qualitative Field Research

Some Qualitative Field Research Paradigms

Chapter Outline Conducting Qualitative Field Research Strengths and Weaknesses or Qualitative Field Research Research Ethics in Qualitative Field Research Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Field Research

Conducting Qualitative Field Research

Strengths and Weaknesses or Qualitative Field Research

Research Ethics in Qualitative Field Research

Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative Field Research

Topics for Field Research Attitudes and behaviors best understood in a natural setting Social processes over time

Attitudes and behaviors best understood in a natural setting

Social processes over time

Elements of Social Life Appropriate to Field Research Practices: talking, reading a book Episodes: divorce, crime, illness Encounters: people meeting and interacting Role: occupations, family roles Relationships: friendships, family

Practices: talking, reading a book

Episodes: divorce, crime, illness

Encounters: people meeting and interacting

Role: occupations, family roles

Relationships: friendships, family

Elements of Social Life Appropriate to Field Research Groups: cliques, teams, work groups Organizations: hospitals, schools Settlements: neighborhoods, ghettoes Social worlds: "wall street", "the sports world“ Lifestyles (subcultures): urban, homeless

Groups: cliques, teams, work groups

Organizations: hospitals, schools

Settlements: neighborhoods, ghettoes

Social worlds: "wall street", "the sports world“

Lifestyles (subcultures): urban, homeless

Field Research Paradigms Naturalism Ethnomethodology Grounded theory Case studies and the extended case method Institutional ethnography Participatory action research

Naturalism

Ethnomethodology

Grounded theory

Case studies and the extended case method

Institutional ethnography

Participatory action research

Preparing for Field Work Fill in your knowledge of the subject. Discuss the group you plan to research with an informant. Develop an identity with the people to be studied. Realize that your initial contact with the group can influence your observations.

Fill in your knowledge of the subject.

Discuss the group you plan to research with an informant.

Develop an identity with the people to be studied.

Realize that your initial contact with the group can influence your observations.

Question When you use field research, you’re confronted with: decisions about the role you’ll play as an observer your relations with the people you’re observing both a and b none of these choices

When you use field research, you’re confronted with:

decisions about the role you’ll play as an observer

your relations with the people you’re observing

both a and b

none of these choices

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

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

Analyzing Existing Statistics Can be the main source of data or a supplemental source of data. Often existing data doesn't cover the exact question. Reliability is dependent on the quality of the statistics.

Can be the main source of data or a supplemental source of data.

Often existing data doesn't cover the exact question.

Reliability is dependent on the quality of the statistics.

Durkheim’s Study Why do people kill themselves? Failure Love Disgrace Durkheim found that suicide rates, with proportion taken into consideration, were stable across nations. However, he found that individuals committed suicide based on political upheaval and religion.

Why do people kill themselves?

Failure

Love

Disgrace

Durkheim found that suicide rates, with proportion taken into consideration, were stable across nations.

However, he found that individuals committed suicide based on political upheaval and religion.

Durkheim’s Study Units don’t have to be people. Dogs Cats Countries Planets

Units don’t have to be people.

Dogs

Cats

Countries

Planets

Problems of Validity and Reliability Validity Data we want doesn’t exactly cover what we want Logical Reasoning Replication Reliability Are the reports accurate? Other factors How far back records go? Are they corrupt/biased? Are there instances not covered in the data?

Validity

Data we want doesn’t exactly cover what we want

Logical Reasoning

Replication

Reliability

Are the reports accurate?

Other factors

How far back records go?

Are they corrupt/biased?

Are there instances not covered in the data?

Comparative and Historical Research Involves the use of historical methods by sociologists, political scientists and other social scientists.

Involves the use of historical methods by sociologists, political scientists and other social scientists.

Comparative and Historical Analysis Cautions: Can't trust the accuracy of records - official or unofficial, primary or secondary. Must be wary of bias in data sources.

Cautions:

Can't trust the accuracy of records - official or unofficial, primary or secondary.

Must be wary of bias in data sources.

Question Which of the following occurs when you obtain a copy of someone else’s data and undertake your own statistical analysis? using quasi official statistics using official statistics secondary analysis none of these choices

Which of the following occurs when you obtain a copy of someone else’s data and undertake your own statistical analysis?

using quasi official statistics

using official statistics

secondary analysis

none of these choices

Secondary analysis occurs when you obtain a copy of someone else’s data and undertake your own statistical analysis.

Secondary analysis occurs when you obtain a copy of someone else’s data and undertake your own statistical analysis.

Some Positive and Negative Aspects of Bureaucracy