Participant Observation : A Methodology for Human Studies (Applied Social Research Methods)

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Summary: A Guide To Get Started
Review: Jorgensen is clear in his purpose for writing this book. It is to give people an introduction to the methodology of partcipant observation. He explains how the process works and gives examples to support his explanation. In the first chapter he identifies situations when the method would be appropriate: 1)little known about the phenomenon 2) different viewers between insiders and outsiders 3) outsiders having an obscured view 4) phenomenon hidden from public view. In arguing for the validity of what is discovered by researchers using the method, he writes it "aims to provide practical and theoretical truths about human experience" (p. 16). In my own graduate work I found this book to be helpful and recommend it to others interested in the field