Class notes
Unobtrusive Research
- Course
- Institution
conclusion to the course
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
carolinehenson
Content preview
April 7th, 2021SOCI2151H Week 12: Unobtrusive Research: Role of the Researcher
Reading: Chapter 9
The role of the researcher in qualitative field research
● Full participant: completely immersed in the community studied
● Complete observer: no participation (can disguise self as a participant instead of
admitting to being a researcher)
● Ethical dilemma: deception, an ethical and scientific issue
● Reactivity: subjects may react/modify their behaviour/responses unnaturally
○ Subjects could kick the researcher out, be more respectful, or abandon an
otherwise set plan altogether
○ Conversely, the researcher’s participation may alter social processes (if
the weren’t there at all)
○ Must do your research prior to entering the field (always be informed!)
○ Must check for objectivity
■ Not going to be pure but do your best
■ Requires practice
Textbook example: Daniel Wolf (1991) Calgary Outlaw Motorcycle Club
● Research questions: how did they see themselves, and how did they collectively
create their subculture?
○ Great difficulty gaining access, but always learning something just by
being in the field
■ You NEED an in
○ Had prior knowledge as to how the motorcycle gang was viewed in society
○ Bought a Harley motorcycle and wore appropriate clothing (denim or
leather)
● “He flattened my nose and began choking me. Unable to get air down my throat
and breathing only blood through my nostrils, I managed a body punch that
luckily found his solar plexus and loosened his grip. I then grabbed one of his
hands and pulled back on the thumb until I heard the joint break. Mistake number
2: it was time to move on”
● Eventually got an in with the Rebels gang
● Completely changed his entrance strategy (got invited to drink with them and go
for rides with them because he just casually brought up bikes with a few
members
● “Brotherhood, I came to learn, is the foundation of the outlaw club community. It
establishes among members a sense of moral, emotional, and material
interdependence and commitment. The enduring emotion of brotherhood is
comradeship. To a patch holder, brotherhood means being there when needed;
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller carolinehenson. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
48298 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 15 years now