Introduction

Ethnography is a qualitative research method that relies foremost upon participant observation and immersion within a certain setting or community to gather in-depth data about the phenomena you are studying. Participant observation is defined as a method of data collection in which a researcher immerses in the community they are researching, partaking in the day-today activities of the participants, spending an extended amount of time, usually a minimum of six months, within people’s lives, engaging in the same rituals and activities, eating the same foods, and fully engaging in and with the community.

5 Key Considerations

When incorporating participant observation into ethnographic research, there are 5 main aspects to consider:[1]

1. Methodology– researchers must consider all aspects of the methodology, such as the setting in which the research will take place, the questions that might come up, the manner in which the data will be collected and analyzed, and the possible limitation that could arise during participant observation.
2. Building Rapport– When planning on conducting participant observation it is important to build rapport within the community. This consists of many steps; gaining a step in the door, engaging with stakeholders, talking to and building trust with community members, etc. This rapport will assist in getting accurate and authentic data from the participants, as they feel more comfortable speaking to and engaging with the researcher.
3. Reflexivity– Participant observation, as with all qualitative research, requires the research to constantly recognize how their identity and position impact the research and data collected. The researcher is able to inhabit a space in between an outsider and insider. This allows the researcher to engage fully with the community while being able to represent the experiences accurately from a distance.
4. Informed Consent– When a researcher immerses themselves in a setting, it is important that informed consent is obtained from all participants who will be a part of the data collection and participant. The researcher must inform the community/group/individuals of the topic of research, the methods, the purpose of the research, and how the researcher would maintain privacy and confidentiality. Informed consent can be obtained formally or informally based on the requirements of the IRB.
5. Potential Harms- When engaging in participant observation during ethnography, it is important to consider any potential harms that could come to the participants and community members. These could include psychological harm, social harm, or legal harm. It is critical to recognize the impact of the research on vulnerable or marginalized groups, the repercussions should there be breach in confidentiality, and the power differentials that exist between a researcher and their participants.

Covert vs. Overt Participant Observation

Participant observation can be conducted in two manners; overt and covert. Overt participant observation is the more common form of participant observation in ethnography because it is considered ethically acceptable and more accepted by IRBs. In overt participant observation, researchers make participants and community members aware of their research topic, their identity, and the purpose and objectives of the research. The limitations of overt participant observation are that researchers have to work harder at building rapport and may be refused access to the setting and if not denied access, the community members may react to the researcher’s presence in their space. Covert participant observation occurs when the community/subjects are not aware that the research is taking place. The benefit to this is that data may be more precise and accurate, however, there are significant ethical considerations, like the lack of informed consent, which prohibit covert participant observation from being an accepted method.

Conclusion

This article discusses five main considerations when planning participant observation in an ethnographic research study. These include building rapport, reflexivity, methodology, informed consent, and potential harm. Building rapport is critical in ethnographic research and can be a time-consuming process consisting of many steps; gaining a step in the door, engaging with stakeholders, talking to and building trust with community members, etc. Gaining informed consent is one of the most important ethical aspects when conducting participant observation. Making sure that all parties are aware of their participation in an ethnographic research study is one of the first steps of the ethnographic research process. Every aspect of the research design and methodology must be considered by the researcher when embarking on participant observation in ethnographic research. As with all qualitative research, reflexivity is a major concept in ethnographic research. Because the researcher is immersed in the community of interest, it is even more critical that they constantly recognize how their identity and position impact the research and data collected. A researcher’s primary consideration when embarking on any project is to ensure that no harm will come to the potential participants and research population. It is critical for the researcher to think of all potential consequences of the study prior to beginning participant observation. 

Take Away

When incorporating participant observation into ethnographic research, there are 5 main aspects to consider: methodology, building rapport, reflexivity, informed consent, and potential harms. It is important to outline the setting, how the data will be gathered, methods for data confidentiality and privacy, the inclusion and exclusion criteria for participants, how informed consent will be obtained, and researcher reflexivity.

[1] Stafford, M. R., & Stafford, T. F. (1993). Participant observation and the pursuit of truth: methodological and ethical considerations. Market Research Society. Journal., 35(1), 1-16.