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Participant Observation and Interviewing

A Comparison

Bibliographic Data

ID2497601
AuthorsHoward S Becker (Community Studies, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri), Blanche Geer (Community Studies, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri)
Year1957
Volume16
Issue3
Pages28-32
Publication date1957-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHuman Organization (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0018-7259 • E-ISSN: 1938-3517
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.17730/humo.16.3.k687822132323013
OpenAlexW2055282482
LanguageEN
Citations received190

The most complete form of the sociological datum, after all, is the form in which the participant observer gathers it: An observation of some social event, the events which precede and follow it, and explanations of its meaning by participants and spectators, before, during, and after its occurrence. Such a datum gives us more information about the event under study than data gathered by any other sociological method. Participant observation can thus provide us with a yardstick against which to measure the completeness of data gathered in other ways, a model which can serve to let us know what orders of information escape us when we use other methods

Completeness (order theory · Epistemology · Event (particle physics · Geodetic datum · Geography · Interview · Meaning (existential · Observer (physics · Participant observation · Social science · Sociology · Yardstick · Anthropology · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Mathematics · Psychology · Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research · Social Psychology

  • Rules of the road

    Open Access•Amanda Koontz Anthony, William F Danaher•Qualitative Research•2016

  • Beyond a subjective theory of value and towards a ‘fair price’

    Open Access•Juliane Reinecke•Organization•2010

  • The Social Uses of Advertising

    Mark Ritson, Richard Elliott•Journal of Consumer Research•1999

  • Some problems of the methodology of sociological research

    Open Access•Vladimir Ilić, Marta Veljkovic•Sociologija•2016

  • Ethnography

    Anthony Kwame Harrison•Oxford Handbook of Qualitative…•2020

  • A Handbook of Qualitative Methodologies for Mass Communication Research

    Nicholas W Jankowski, Klaus Bruhn Jensen•Handbook of Qualitative…•2002

  • Interactionism, Symbolic

    Open Access•Alex Dennis, Greg Smith•International Encyclopedia of the…•2015

  • Qualitative research methods in health technology assessment

    Open Access•Murphy Murphy, Robert Dingwall et al.•Health Technology Assessment•1998

  • Collaborative Analysis of Qualitative Data

    F Cornish, A Gillespie et al.•The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative…•2014

  • Designing a Qualitative Study

    Joseph A Maxwell, Joseph Maxwell•The SAGE Handbook of Applied…•2009

  • Key Informant

    Open Access•Jon H Rieger•The Blackwell Encyclopedia of…•2007

  • The Roles of Observers in Empirical Research in Social Sciences

    Open Access•Vladimir Ilić•Revija za sociologiju•2016

  • Towards situated practices for disaster risk reduction (DRR)

    Open Access•Francisco Molina-Camacho, Francisco Molina Camacho et al.•International Journal of Disaster…•2021

  • Understanding EAL

    Open Access•James Spencer•Journal of Research in…•2021

  • Quand « l’avenir est derrière soi »

    Thibaut Besozzi•Retraite et société•2021

  • In welcher Soziologie arbeiten (und leben) wir? Eine Einladung

    Open Access•R Keller•Soziologische Revue•2024

  • Workplace‐based assessments—Articulating the playbook

    Open Access•Arpan Tahim, Deborah Gill et al.•Medical Education•2023

  • A New Understanding of the Role of Self-oriented Motivations in the Creation of Social Enterprises

    Open Access•Alice Mascena Barbosa, G Dumont•Journal of Business Ethics•2024

  • From Data Journalism to Artificial Intelligence

    Open Access•Mathias-Felipe De-Lima-Santos, Ramón Salaverría•Palabra Clave•2021

  • Task Shifting and Sharing in Indian Mental Health

    Open Access•Shukanto Das, David Fearon et al.•Community Mental Health Journal•2026

  • La percepción del cortometraje por los profesionales del cine español

    Open Access•Alejandro de Vega de Unceta•Fotocinema Revista científica de…•2018

  • Buying reassurance

    Jifang Qiu•Health Risk & Society•2019

  • The Problem of Informant Accuracy

    H R Bernard, Peter Killworth et al.•Annual Review of Anthropology•1984

  • Vernacular budgeting and accounting routines – a longitudinal constructive case study

    Open Access•Toni Mättö, Marko Järvenpää et al.•Journal of Public Budgeting…•2022

  • Feldanalyse als Forschungsprogramm

    Stefan Bernhard, Christian Schmidt-Wellenburg•Feldanalyse Als Forschungsprogramm…•2012

  • Teilnehmende Beobachtung

    Götz Bachmann•Handbuch Methoden der Organisations…•2009

  • Soziologie und qualitative Sozialforschung

    Christel Hopf•Schriften Zu Methodologie und…•2016

  • Teaching and Learning the Craft

    Katherine Jensen, J Auyero•Urban Ethnography•2019

  • Herbert Blumer

    Open Access•Alex Dennis•The Interactionist Imagination•2017

  • Qualitative methods for health research

    John Green, Nicki Thorogood•Choice Reviews Online•2009

  • The denotative dimension of meaning for the mentally ill-healthy role

    Open Access•Francis P Noe•Social Science & Medicine (1967•1971

  • The Use and Misuse of Surveys in International Development

    Linda S Stone, Linda Stone et al.•Human Organization•1984

  • Complementary Methods of Data Gathering in Literate, Urban Populations

    Suzanne Ziegler, William Michelson•Human Organization•1981

  • Local Broadcast Journalists and the Trap of Professional Heterogeneity

    Open Access•Claudio Casula, Clementina Casula•Professions and Professionalism•2021

  • Special Issue

    Open Access•Anne Leseth•Professions and Professionalism•2021

  • Labor Insertion of Italian Professionals in Valencia

    Open Access•Anna Giulia Ingellis, Fernando Osvaldo Esteban et al.•Professions and Professionalism•2021

  • Achieving synergies through generic skills

    Open Access•Barnard Clarkson, Chris Brook et al.•Australasian Journal of…•2007

  • Emotion Regulation through Experiences of Psychic Mediumship

    Anne Austad, Hege Kristin Ringnes•Nordic Journal of Religion and…•2021

  • A critique of the use of triangulation in social research

    Open Access•Norman W H Blaikie, Norman Blaikie•Quality & Quantity•1991

  • The Integration of Fieldwork and Survey Methods

    Sam D Sieber•American Journal of Sociology•1973

  • Observation

    Lynda Baker•Library trends•2006

  • The Hospital Volunteer

    Open Access•Mary Jo Deegan, Larry Nutt et al.•Sociology of Work and Occupations•1975

  • Participant Observation in the Sociological Analysis of Sport

    Open Access•Rex W Thomson•International Review of Sport…•1977

  • Design and Interdisciplinarity

    Open Access•Andrew Gentes, Annie Gentès et al.•Proceedings of DRS•2016

  • Mixing Qualitative Methods

    Open Access•Rosaline S Barbour•Qualitative Health Research•1998

  • Papal Authority

    Open Access•Barbara Jones Denison•Social Compass•1990

  • Ethical Problems in Studying a Politically Sensitive and Deviant Community

    Lee Rainwater, David J Pittman•Social Problems•1967

  • “The most important technique …”

    Open Access•Raymond M Lee•Journal of the History of the…•2011

  • Entering the Native's Social World

    Steve Mainprise•NEXUS The Canadian Student…•1982

  • Teaching and Learning about Controversial Issues

    John T King•Theory & Research in Social…•2009

  • The Value of a Pre-Internship Observation Experience

    Rosalyn Benjamin Darling•Teaching Sociology•1998

  • Caring in community

    Open Access•Jane A Van Galen•The Urban Review•1993

  • Perception of Adoption as Social Stigma

    Karen March•Journal of Marriage and the Family•1995

  • On Qualitative Family Research

    Ralph Larossa, Jane H Wolf•Journal of Marriage and the Family•1985

  • An Integrating View of the Underlying Premises of an Industrial Ethnology in the United States and Canada

    Frederick C Gamst•Anthropological Quarterly•1977

  • Why “merged” methods realize a higher integration than “mixed” methods

    Open Access•Giampietro Gobo•Qualitative Research in…•2016

  • Interview-based research in management and organisation studies

    Open Access•Stefanie Reissner, Andrea Whittle•Qualitative Research in…•2021

  • Religiosity and Spirituality Among Members of an African American Church Community

    Cassandra Chaney•Journal of Religion & Spirituality…•2008

  • Emotional Forecasting of Happiness

    Open Access•Hege Kristin Ringnes, Gry Stålsett et al.•Archive for the Psychology of…•2017

  • Hot Potato Criminology

    J Katz•Annual Review of Criminology•2018

  • Opening the Black Box-Three Approaches to Interpretation in Participant Observation Studies

    Open Access•E Scheibelhofer•Sociology and Anthropology•2018

  • Mastering the jazz standard

    Open Access•Erik Nylander•American Journal of Cultural…•2013

  • What can cognitive neuroscience do for cultural sociology

    Open Access•Omar Lizardo, Brandon Sepulvado et al.•American Journal of Cultural…•2019

  • Classroom culture and cultures in the classroom

    Open Access•Jessica Kempner•Holocaust Studies•2022

  • A Community of Voices

    Open Access•Mitchell Bartholomew, Travis Jones et al.•TechTrends•2012

  • Who Counts as a Sexual Subject? The Impact of Ableist Rhetoric for People with Intellectual Disability in Sweden

    Open Access•Julia Bahner, Richard Gäddman Johansson et al.•Sexuality Research and Social…•2023

  • Rethinking rules for 911

    Open Access•Jessica Gillooly, Barry Friedman•Criminology & Public Policy•2025

  • Performative Progressiveness

    Open Access•Adriana Brodyn, Amin Ghaziani•City and Community•2018

  • Dual Language Teachers’ Use of Conventional, Environmental, and Personal Resources to Support Academic Language Development

    Audrey Lucero•Bilingual Research Journal•2015

  • Lay Acquiescence to Medical Dominance

    Open Access•Jacqueline Low, Karen Bridget Murray et al.•Social Theory & Health•2006

  • Concrete U(dys)topia in Bethlehem

    Rami K Isaac, Vincent Platenkamp•Journal of Tourism and Cultural…•2015

  • Beyond the hinterland

    Open Access•Tianyang Liu, Yao Song et al.•International Relations of the…•2019

  • Foreign presents or foreign presence? Resident perceptions of Australian and Chinese tourists in Niseko, Japan

    Open Access•Kim Nelson, Kim Nelson-Miles et al.•Tourist Studies•2017

  • Biographical interviews and imagined futures essay writing

    Graham Crow, Maggie Andrews et al.•International Journal of Social…•2019

  • Biting the Hand that Heals You

    Clinton R Sanders•Society and Animals•1994

  • Multi-Visual Qualitative Method

    Open Access•George Tsourvakas•Qualitative Report•1997

  • Reflecting on Novice Qualitative Interviewer Mistakes

    Open Access•Eleni Gesch-Karamanlidis•Qualitative Report•2015

  • Ethnography and narrative

    Open Access•Merlijn Van Hulst•Policing & Society•2019

  • Understanding scientists’ computational modeling decisions about climate risk management strategies using values-informed mental models

    Open Access•Lauren A Mayer, Kathleen Loa et al.•Global Environmental Change•2016

  • Educational research as a full participant

    Jon Wagner•International Journal of…•1993

  • The construction of researcher–researched relationships in school ethnography

    Xi Wang•International Journal of…•2012

  • Alternative Lenses for Qualitative Religion Research

    T Hjelm•Method & Theory in the Study of…•2021

  • Deconstructing homegardens

    Open Access•Karie Boone, Peter Taylor et al.•Agriculture and Human Values•2015

  • Co-constructing sustainability

    Open Access•Winfred Onyas, Winfred Ikiring Onyas et al.•Journal of Rural Studies•2018

  • Media Consumption and the Contexts of Physical Culture

    Brad Millington, Brian Wilson•Sociology of Sport Journal•2010

  • Exploitation in rent systems

    Safi Sham•International Review of Sociology•2025

  • Predatory rapists and victim selection techniques

    Open Access•Dennis J Stevens•The Social Science Journal•1994

  • Ex-ante Hypothesen in der Qualitativen Sozialforschung

    Werner Meinefeld•Zeitschrift für Soziologie•1997

  • Understanding the Process of Community Capacity-Building

    Open Access•Juan Manuel Moreno, Lori M Noguchi et al.•World Development•2017

  • Audience orientation and the occupational rhetoric of public house performers

    Kenneth Mullen•Popular Music & Society•1987

  • Objectivity and truth

    Open Access•Joan Acker, Kate Barry et al.•Women s Studies International Forum•1983

  • The Sociology of Medical Education

    W Bloom, Samuel W Bloom•The Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly•1965

  • Tourists as commodities in below-cost tours

    Open Access•Shengrong Chen, Jiarui Zhu•Annals of Tourism Research•2025

  • Reflections on Participant Observation and Humanistic Sociology

    Open Access•Jerold M Starr•Humanity & Society•1979

  • Employment Status and Commitment Among Public House Performers

    Open Access•Ken Mullen•International Journal of…•1985

  • Recent Radical Criticism of Interview Studies

    M Hammersley•British Journal of Sociology of…•2003

  • Multiple Methods of Data Collection

    Open Access•Janet Lever•Urban Life•1981

  • Saying, Doing, Talking, Listening

    Open Access•K De Laat, A Doucet•Sociology•2025

  • Howard S. Becker

    Open Access•Nachman Ben-Yehuda, Nachman Ben‐yehuda et al.•Sociological Inquiry•1989

  • On “Socializing” Attitudes

    Kenneth L Stewart, Kenneth Stewart•Sociological Focus•1975

Unique citing works190
Citations per year3,11
Citation span1965 - 2026 (62)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedYes
Citation typesNeutral: 186
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