2. “…participant observation
involves not only gaining
access to and immersing
oneself in new social
worlds, but also producing
written accounts and
descriptions that bring
versions of these worlds to
others.” (p.352)”
3. “Writings produced in or in close proximity to “the field”
“A form of representation, that is a way of reducing just-observed
events, persons and places to written accounts.”
“Descriptive accounts of people, scenes and dialogue, as well as
personal experiences and reactions…”
Some field researchers consider fieldnotes to be writings that record
both what they learn and observe about the activities of others and
their own actions, questions and reflections.
But others insist on a sharp distinction between records of what others
said and did - the 'data' of fieldwork - and writings incorporating their
own thoughts and reactions.
4. For the purposes of your
research, where would
observations take place?
Once you’re in the field,
how do you select what
to observe?
How would you balance
how much to observe vs.
taking notes while
observing?
5. Whether, when, where and how to start?
“Ethnographers' approaches to making jottings vary widely
both across and within projects by their understanding of
the setting and by their relationships within it” (p. 357)
Mental notes=
6. Jotted notes:
Assuming the “note-taker” role right away!
Getting to a more private place for those ‘covert jottings’
Jotting down notes upon leaving the field.
Images source: Google Images
7. How the fieldworker
emotionally responds to
events may reflect what occurs
in the setting.
Emotional reactions provide
analytic leads.
Recording emotions over time
allow the ethnographer
identify biases and prejudices,
as well as changing attitudes
toward people and events.
8. Informants voices
must be represented in
final texts, and a way
to do so is by
recreating their voices
through excerpts.
How can we represent
our informants’ voices
in our final work?
Images source: Google Images
9. Foley was considered an “outsider” in both Cristal City
and North Town.
“The kids were constantly trying to guess exactly what I was going to
write. Many wanted to know how I lived and who paid me.” (p.218)
How being an “outsider” affected Foley in his role as an
observer in Cristal City?
In what ways was his experience different in North
Town?
What can we learn from his experiences in these two
scenarios to be applied to our own research?
10. Some ethnographers use theory to try to emancipate those
observed, such as the articles provided by authors in the book
edited by Anyon.
11. • Do you think the researchers
were successful in their goals?
• How does this apply to our
research?
• How can we use theorizing
with participants as a
method?
• When is it appropriate?
