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Participant Observation

Description:

Participant observation is a method of collecting information about the operation of, and attitudes existing in, a community through a researcher living in the area for an extended period¹.

The participant observer becomes known within the community, and gets to know the community in a more intimate and detailed way than someone who simply comes to do a survey and then departs. The participant observer consequently is given much more detailed information, and may identify specific issues and assist groups to address these by developing mutually agreed principles and practices.

Objectives:

A participant observer is placed in a community with the aim of collecting more detailed information about a community’s habits, opinions and issues and with a view to developing planning and policies that better incorporate the community’s needs and wishes.

Outcomes:

Information about a community collected by a participant observer can ensure that planning and decision making incorporates community needs and opinions, and will therefore be more acceptable and more useful to the community.

Uses/strengths:

• Can develop greater understanding of sensitive situations.
• Can be used before developing a consultation program in cases where the nature of community issues is not known to agencies.
• Can be used for scoping information and determining key players when the issue is contentious or controversial.
• Can assist in the development of a more thoughtful consultation program because participant observation is usually conducted incognito. Can allow the development of consultation processes that suit the subject community.

Special considerations/weaknesses:

• This method is limited, and needs to be used in conjunction with other methods for collecting information (e.g. surveys, public meetings, and/or displays and exhibits).
• Depends on the ability of the researcher/consultant to correctly observe and draw appropriate conclusions.
• Can create concern in the community.
• Not recommended for use in isolation but in conjunction with other tools and techniques, to offset any bias or inaccuracy in the observer’s conclusions.
• Applicable to a wide variety of issues.
• Particularly useful as a technique where the issue is contentious or controversial.
• Takes a long time.

Resources required:

• Staff
• Publicity
• Accommodation
• Observation locations (may include a location for a storefront drop-in centre)
• Record-keeping facilities (computers, notebooks)
• Venues and resources for public meetings (see Workshops)

Can be used for:

• Showcase product, plan, policy
• Engage community
• Discover community issues
• Develop community capacity
• Develop action plan
• Communicate an issue

Number of people required to help organise:

• Medium (2-12 people)
• Individual

Audience size:

• Large (> 30)

Time required:

• Long (> 6 months)
• Medium (6 weeks - 6 months)

Skill level/support required:

• High (Specialist skills)

Cost:

• High (> AUD$10,000)

Participation level:

• Low (Information only)

Innovation level:

• Low (Traditional)

Method:

1. Researcher lives in or regularly visits the site/suburb/organisation.
2. Observations are made by the researcher regarding opinions or reactions to particular issues.
3. Researchers should state their intentions openly, and integrate themselves into the community.
4. The conclusions drawn by the researcher depend largely on the researcher’s abilities, and should be seen within this context.
5. Generally, participant observation should be combined with actual participation techniques to be of any value.

References:

• Sarkissian, W, Perlgut, D & Ballard, E (eds.) (1986) ‘Community participation in practice’, The community participation handbook: resources for public involvement in the planning process, Impacts Press, Roseville, NSW
• http://www.iisd.org/casl/CASLGuide/ParticipantObserver.htm

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¹ Sarkissian, W, Perlgut, D & Ballard, E (eds.) (1986) ‘Community participation in practice’, The community participation handbook: resources for public involvement in the planning process, Impacts Press, Roseville, NSW