Chapter 10: Qualitative Field Chapter 10: Qualitative Field Examples of Field Research Examples of Field Research Research Research � Studying the Satanists (Randall Alfred, 1976) Studying the Satanists (Randall Alfred, 1976) � � Topics Appropriate to Field Research Topics Appropriate to Field Research � � Subject: The Church of Satan based in San Francisco Subject: The Church of Satan based in San Francisco � � Special Considerations in Qualitative Field Special Considerations in Qualitative Field � � Time period: 1968 Time period: 1968 - - 1973 1973 � � Became a member of the church, was given administrative Became a member of the church, was given administrative Research Research � as well as magical responsibilities, and was appointed to as well as magical responsibilities, and was appointed to � Some Qualitative Field Research Paradigms Some Qualitative Field Research Paradigms the “ruling” body of the church the “ruling” body of the church � � Life in the streets (Liebow, 1967) Life in the streets (Liebow, 1967) � � Conducting Qualitative Field Research Conducting Qualitative Field Research � � Subject: Street life of African Americans Subject: Street life of African Americans � � Strengths and Weaknesses or Qualitative Field Strengths and Weaknesses or Qualitative Field � Made friends with the subjects, recorded what they said, Made friends with the subjects, recorded what they said, � � did, and the related contexts did, and the related contexts Research Research � Went to places where the subjects would go Went to places where the subjects would go � � Helped the subjects by given legal advice Helped the subjects by given legal advice � Research Ethics in Qualitative Field Research Research Ethics in Qualitative Field Research � � What are the topics appropriate for What are the topics appropriate for What are the elements of social life that What are the elements of social life that field research? are appropriate to field research? are appropriate to field research? field research? � Practices: talking, reading a book Practices: talking, reading a book � � Attitudes and behaviors best understood in a Attitudes and behaviors best understood in a � � Episodes: divorce, crime, illness Episodes: divorce, crime, illness � natural setting. natural setting. � Encounters: people meeting and interacting Encounters: people meeting and interacting � � Social processes over time. Social processes over time. � � Role: occupations, family roles Role: occupations, family roles � � Relationships: friendships, family Relationships: friendships, family � � Groups: cliques, teams, work groups Groups: cliques, teams, work groups � � Organizations: hospitals, schools Organizations: hospitals, schools � � Settlements: neighborhoods, ghettoes Settlements: neighborhoods, ghettoes � � Social worlds: "wall street", "the sports world“ Social worlds: "wall street", "the sports world“ � � Lifestyles (subcultures): urban, homeless Lifestyles (subcultures): urban, homeless � What are the various roles of the What are the various roles of the What is reactivity? What is reactivity? researcher in field research? researcher in field research? � Complete participant Complete participant � � Reactivity Reactivity � � The researcher's identity and purpose are not known to The researcher's identity and purpose are not known to � The problem that the subjects of social research may The problem that the subjects of social research may those being observed in the compete participant role. those being observed in the compete participant role. react to the fact of being studied, thus altering their react to the fact of being studied, thus altering their � Participant Participant- -as as- -observer observer � behavior from what it would have been normally. behavior from what it would have been normally. � The researcher fully participates the social activity, but The researcher fully participates the social activity, but � people being studied know the researcher's identity. people being studied know the researcher's identity. � Reactivity becomes an issue when the researcher has Reactivity becomes an issue when the researcher has � � Observer Observer- -as as- -participant participant � the role of “participant the role of “p articipant- -as as- -observer” or “o observer” or “observer bserver- -as as- - � The researcher identifies himself and his purpose, has some The researcher identifies himself and his purpose, has some � participant” because in these two cases subjects know participant” because in these two cases subjects know interaction but not extensive participation. interaction but not extensive participation. they are being studied. they are being studied. � Complete observer Complete observer � � The researcher is a complete observer of a social situation The researcher is a complete observer of a social situation � Reactivity affects the validity of the research. Reactivity affects the validity of the research. � � without becoming a part of it. without becoming a part of it. 1
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