Participant Observation Paper Guidelines

Participant Observation Paper Guidelines

You are an ethnographer studying human behavior. You will observe and write about people doing something related to a topic that interests you (fieldwork). This experience can be really rewarding.

Choose an event or activity that is new to you. (This paper cannot be based on a previous experience.) Examples include: markets, musical events, dance events, festivals, rituals in homes or outside, services or ceremonies in temples, churches, synagogues, sporting events, and crafts production. Local papers, colleagues, classmates, and friends may provide ideas or even invitations.

Previous students have gone to places including: Bingo, Swing Dancing, religious services, roller derby, pow-wows…etc. Our current COVID-19 situation is creating new ways to interact with this assignment.

While you are certainly welcome to engage in a safe in-person activity that is available to you, I have suggested to many students for the participant observation assignment to pick a topic of interest and then look for a Facebook Group, a Blog, an Online Forum, Youtube videos, etc. that explore this subject with people who are practicing it or interacting with it. \r\n \r\n

To this end, I have one student who looked at drag queens and attended online events such as Drag Queen Story Hour. I have another student who looked at the impact of COVID-19 on secondary education and used the Montgomery County School System Facebook page to analyze how parents and students were reacting to the announcements. He then reached out to interview people in his own social networks about what he learned from this Facebook group.

I have another student who watched Law and Order episodes to analyze how we understand justice in American society and then interviewed friends in her social network about her findings.

During your fieldwork (whether online or in-person) take notes and photos, of course with the permission of those you are working with. (If you are unable to take notes during the course of your visit, write them as soon as the fieldwork is done). TAKE A PICTURE OF YOURSELF at your site or a selfie doing research online. Talk to people. Interviews or questioning are essential for getting an emic (native’s point of view) understanding of what you are observing.

Emic refers to the perspective of those you are studying, while etic refers to the perspective of the researcher who has anthropological training. You will need to use both of these perspectives in your paper. Good open-ended questions can be simple like “Why do you come here?” or “What does this event mean to you?” [Remember you are trying to get the native’s (emic) perspective with these questions.]

Write a 7-8 page paper. Make sure you define your topic, state why you chose this subject, include a statement of ethics (i.e. you have permission to do your fieldwork), clearly describe the cultural scene and activities, summarize your fieldwork, interpret anthropologically what you observed (very important), write a conclusion, and include references.* \r\n \r\n *Papers should be types with double-spacing and 12 point font. Please have someone proof read your paper. For how to cite sources, refer to either the library’s APA and MLA styles. Chicago style is a good one. Microsoft Word has a function for citations. Go to “References,” then “Insert Citation,” and then “Bibliography.”

Participant Observation Paper Suggested Outline \r\n \r\nI. Introduce your topic. A. What is your main point (thesis) about your participant observation topic? B. What did you observe and participate in? C. Why did you choose that? Do you have any personal involvement? (Family member, friend, coworker) II. Statement of ethics A. Who gave you permission to be there? Or state that you explained your purpose for interviewing the people you talked to and let them know they would remain anonymous. B. How did you ask for permission? C. Include any difficulties you had with this. Note: Maybe innclude AAA Code of Ethics as a reference.

III. Observations. Clearly describe from an anthropological perspective what occurred. A. Date, place, and time B. Who was there? (Categorize what you saw or break-down participants: e.g. number of men and women, children, singers, buyers, performers….) And what were they wearing if applicable? Did different people have different roles? What behavioral patterns did you notice? What else was notable? C. Describe the setting either online or in-person. D. Describe the procession of the event. E. Who did you interview? (Make sure you interview/talk-to at least two people).

FOCUS YOUR TIME ON THIS SECTION IV. Interpret anthropologically what was going on. A. Try to be as objective as possible. Use your observations and quotes from interviews to support what you say. Discuss emic versus etic perspectives. B. Do some research to support your etic perspective (the anthropological perspective). Start with your textbooks. Use the words and concepts from class and your readings. Define the terms that you use. C. Contact me if you need help here, particularly since we will not have covered everything before you start writing your paper.

V. Conclusion A. Summarize your research through an anthropological lens. B. Write about your personal feelings, obstacles, tensions, excitement, and how this experience may have changed the way you look at the world. \r\n

VI. References You must have references. Use your textbook, books, articles, and internet sources. Follow the guidelines from the tutorials you completed the first week of class. Information and quotes from your interviews must also be cited. Cite interviews by including the name of the person interviewed and the date of the interview. For help in writing your paper, from finding articles to writing your references, see:

Sample Solution

Here’s an example outline for a participant observation paper:

I. Introduction
A. Background information about the topic
B. Thesis statement
C. Personal reasons for choosing the topic and participating in the event

II. Statement of Ethics
A. Permission and ethical considerations
B. How permission was obtained
C. Challenges encountered

III. Observations
A. Date, time, and location
B. Participants and their roles
C. Description of the setting and event
D. Procession of the event
E. Interviews with participants

IV. Interpretation
A. Analysis of the observations from an anthropological perspective
B. Comparison of emic and etic perspectives
C. Support from literature and theories

V. Conclusion
A. Summary of the findings
B. Personal reflections and insights gained
C. Implications for the cultural understanding of the event

VI. References
A. Citations and sources used in the paper
B. Format according to the chosen style guide (APA, MLA, etc.)

Remember to proofread your paper before submission, and consult your professor or a writing center if you need further assistance. Good luck!