Participant observation technique: types and characteristics

Psychologists have always tried to study reality, either from the inside or from the outside, in order to analyze and understand it. Thus was born the psychological evaluation, which includes among them a group of techniques called observation techniques. Today we will know in detail a specific type, participant observation technique.

Through observation, we actively acquire information from our environment, using the sense of sight (or other technical means such as cameras).

Sometimes the phenomenon that we intend to observe requires that a person or a professional delve into the reality of the subject or subjects to be observed, to better understand said reality. We are going to know in detail what it all consists of.

• Related article: "What is a psychological evaluation?"

Observation techniques

Observation techniques are a set of techniques and tools aimed at evaluating a phenomenon, an individual or a group of people. They imply a way of approaching the reality of the subject to know it. Observed behaviors and behaviors are generally studied.

They are carried out by an expert or trained observer using protocols prepared for this purpose, which allow systematic annotation.

The situation to be observed is natural or analogous (for example role-playing, cognitive tasks, situational tests, ...).

Observation techniques do not elicit or elicit responses from observed subjects, simply phenomena occur naturally and the expert or observer observes and studies it.

Ways to observe

There are various forms of observation depending on the objective or type of research, that is, various methods and techniques. Some of them are:

• Observation proper.
• Objective techniques.
• Self-reports
• Interview.
• Subjective techniques.
• Projective techniques.

Observer types

Regarding the type of observer, there are two observation modalities according to the type of observer: non-participant observation (for example through the use of a camera, or when the subject does not enter the observed reality of the subject or group), and observation competitor.

• Related article: "Anthropology: what is it and what is the history of this scientific discipline"

Characteristics of participant observation

The participant observation technique is research that involves the social interaction between the researcher and the observed subjects; they all influence each other. In it, data is collected in a systematic and non-intrusive way.

Its origins lie in Social Anthropology, a scientific discipline that studies culture and social institutions in various human groups. Bronislaw Malinowski, Polish Anthropologist, is considered the father of the participant observation technique.

Participant observation is a form of approach to the social and cultural reality of a society or group, but also of an individual. In her the researcher enters the reality to study together with the individual or group under study.

In addition to being a type of technique, it is the basis of ethnographic research, that is, of the study systematic of people and cultures, in addition to a very relevant method used in research qualitative.

Thus, ethnographic research, together with participant observation, are made up of two elements already mentioned: the researcher ("the self") and the group ("the other"). The perspective of the observed subject with the observer is taken into account, in order to get to know objective reality in the most reliable way possible.

When is it applied?

The participant observation technique is used when you want to study social reality as a whole, holistically, but in order to specify a problem that for the moment we do not know.

In other words, this technique is often used when the defined problem does not yet exist, precisely to identify it and specify its dimensions. It may be that you have a prior idea of ​​the area or problem but it must be specified with more precision.

It is also used when dealing with problems where other investigative techniques cannot be practiced (for example, it has been used in prisons, primitive societies, marginal areas, etc.)

On the other hand, it is used in cases where you want to study in detail, directly and "live" the subject or subjects to be observed (for example the behavior of a child with conduct disorder at home or in the classroom).

How to use?

In participant observation techniques the data collection instrument is the researcher himself.

The use of this type of technique must be flexible and adapted to the situation. Thus, the researcher will select a set of informants, which he must observe and with whom he must interact. The researcher may also apply techniques such as interviews, surveys, document review, etc.

In the field diary the researcher will write down the impressions of what he is experiencing and observing to later organize and analyze it.

The research design is developed as the research progresses; First, we will enter the field of study to learn little by little what questions we ask and how we ask them.

Types of participant observation

The participant observation technique can be of two types depending on the type of observer:

1. Outsider and technical observer

In this type the objectivity and accuracy are higher, but the reactivity of the subject also increases. It has little ecological validity, that is, it is difficult to generalize the results to the natural context (beyond laboratory conditions).

For example, it is the observation that a psychologist makes in consultation

2. Close observer

The reactivity is lower because the observer is someone close to the observed subject, someone from their environment, for example the parents. On the other hand, here observation biases (errors) are greater than in the previous one.