Introduction and Purpose
Systematic social observation (SSO) has been used to study “physical, social, and economic characteristics of neighborhoods” and subsequently aid in the identification and construction of “profiles of community processes” ("ICPSR-SSO," n.d.; Sampson & Raudenbush, 1999). An observational study of this type is mostly unobtrusive, and, by its nature, avoids pitfalls, that might detract from uncovering new knowledge, such as “reactivity between researcher and participant,” and bias related to a “tendency of certain kinds of people participating in certain projects” (Aurini, Heath, & Howells, 2016, p. 162-164). An important consideration, however, is that an unobtrusive approach allows for “seeing the world view in a different way” (Aurini et al., 2016, p. 164). Participant observation, a social inquiry tool and data collection method used in qualitative research, allows researchers to “learn things that people may be unwilling to discuss in an interview,” and “see things that routinely escape the awareness of the participant using a different method” (Bryant, n.d., 8). According to Ali (2008), researchers use participant observation as a method to “gain a meaningful knowledge about the existence of a specific social world through experiencing ‘real’ social milieus or through lived experience” (p. 18).
Purpose …show more content…
12). The research site, and social milieu, chosen for this observation was Starbucks of Ocean Township, Oakhurst, NJ. The specific question to be explored was, is there a common observable pattern of culture sharing among the patrons of
Systematic social observation (SSO) has been used to study “physical, social, and economic characteristics of neighborhoods” and subsequently aid in the identification and construction of “profiles of community processes” ("ICPSR-SSO," n.d.; Sampson & Raudenbush, 1999). An observational study of this type is mostly unobtrusive, and, by its nature, avoids pitfalls, that might detract from uncovering new knowledge, such as “reactivity between researcher and participant,” and bias related to a “tendency of certain kinds of people participating in certain projects” (Aurini, Heath, & Howells, 2016, p. 162-164). An important consideration, however, is that an unobtrusive approach allows for “seeing the world view in a different way” (Aurini et al., 2016, p. 164). Participant observation, a social inquiry tool and data collection method used in qualitative research, allows researchers to “learn things that people may be unwilling to discuss in an interview,” and “see things that routinely escape the awareness of the participant using a different method” (Bryant, n.d., 8). According to Ali (2008), researchers use participant observation as a method to “gain a meaningful knowledge about the existence of a specific social world through experiencing ‘real’ social milieus or through lived experience” (p. 18).
Purpose …show more content…
12). The research site, and social milieu, chosen for this observation was Starbucks of Ocean Township, Oakhurst, NJ. The specific question to be explored was, is there a common observable pattern of culture sharing among the patrons of