Participant Observation in Research

Paper Summary:

The paper explores the validity of qualitative observational research methods, specifically participant observation. Through an exploration of the relevant literature and a critical review of a research article on the subject, this paper demonstrates that participant observation is inherently limited in some regards but that the advantages of this methodology are numerous and it should thus not be discounted as an invalid form of scientific inquiry.

From the Paper:

"Research methodology is the foremost consideration when creating a study. The data collection process needs to be identified and described in a manner that justifies the results: this statement should not imply that the methods processes will intentionally yield a desirable set of data, but rather that the methods have been selected in a manner that ensure the resulting data sets are inherently valid. Constructing a research methodology, therefore, is challenging in two very distinctive and different ways, as it is critical to not only to identify the means through which data shall be acquired but to establish an inquiry process that is without bias within an acceptable frame of reason."

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