AnsParticipant observation is in some ways both the most natural and the most challenging
of qualitative data collection methods. It connects the researcher to the most basic of
human experiences, discovering through immersion and participation the hows and
whys of human behavior in a particular context. Such discovery is natural in that all of
us have done this repeatedly throughout our lives, learning what it means to be members of our own families, our ethnic and national cultures, our work groups, and our
personal circles and associations. The challenge of harnessing this innate capability for
Answers & Comments
AnsParticipant observation is in some ways both the most natural and the most challenging
of qualitative data collection methods. It connects the researcher to the most basic of
human experiences, discovering through immersion and participation the hows and
whys of human behavior in a particular context. Such discovery is natural in that all of
us have done this repeatedly throughout our lives, learning what it means to be members of our own families, our ethnic and national cultures, our work groups, and our
personal circles and associations. The challenge of harnessing this innate capability for