Participant Observation -- Definition

Participant Observation Definition The participant observation method, also known as ethnographic research, is when a sociologist actually becomes a part of the group they are studying in order to  collect data and understand a social phenomenon or problem. During participant observation, the researcher works to play two separate roles at the same time: subjective participant and objective observer. Sometimes, though not always, the group is aware that the sociologist is studying them. The goal of participant observation is to gain a deep understanding and familiarity with a certain group of individuals, their values, beliefs, and way of life. Often the group in focus is a subculture of a greater society, like a religious, occupational, or particular community group. To conduct participant observation, the researcher often lives within the group, becomes a part of it, and lives as a group member for an extended period of time, allowing them access to the intimate details and goings-on of the group and their community. This research method was pioneered by anthropologists Bronislaw Malinowski and Franz Boas  but was adopted as a primary research method by many sociologists affiliated with the Chicago School of Sociology in the early twentieth century. Today, participant observation, or ethnography, is a primary research method practiced by qualitative sociologists around the world. Subjective Versus Objective Participation Participant observation requires the researcher to be a subjective participant in the sense that they use knowledge gained through personal involvement with the research subjects to interact with and gain further access to the group. This component supplies a dimension of information that is lacking in survey data. Participant observation research also requires the researcher to aim to be an objective observer and record everything that he or she has seen, not letting feelings and emotions influence their observations and findings. Yet, most researchers recognize that true objectivity is an ideal, not an actuality, given that the way in which we see the world and people in it is always shaped by our previous experiences and our positionality in the social structure relative to others. As such, a good participant observer will also maintain a critical self-reflexivity that allows her to recognize the way she herself might influence the field of research and the data she collects. Strengths and Weaknesses The strengths of participant observation include the depth of knowledge that it allows the researcher to obtain and the perspective of knowledge of social problems and phenomena generated from the level of the everyday lives of those experiencing them. Many consider this an egalitarian research method because it centers the experiences, perspectives, and knowledge of those studied. This type of research has been the source of some of the most striking and valuable studies in sociology. Some drawbacks or weaknesses of this method are that it is very time-consuming, with researchers spending months or years living in the place of study. Because of this, participant observation can yield a vast amount of data that might be overwhelming to comb through and analyze. And, researchers must be careful to remain somewhat detached as observers, especially as time passes and they become an accepted part of the group, adopting its habits, ways of life, and perspectives. Questions about objectivity and ethics were raised about sociologist Alice Goffmans research methods because some interpreted passages from her book  On the Run  as an admission of involvement in a murder conspiracy. Students wishing to conduct participant observation research should consult two excellent books on the subject:  Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes  by Emerson et al., and  Analyzing Social Settings, by Lofland and Lofland.

Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan in the Civil War

Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan in the Civil War John Hunt Morgan - Early Life: Born June 1, 1825, in Huntsville, AL, John Hunt Morgan was the son of Calvin and Henrietta (Hunt) Morgan. The eldest of ten children, he moved to Lexington, KY at age six following the failure of his fathers business. Settling on one of the Hunt family farms, Morgan was schooled locally before enrolling in Transylvania College in 1842. His career in higher education proved short as he was suspended two years later for dueling with a fraternity brother. With the outbreak of the Mexican-American War in 1846, Morgan enlisted in a cavalry regiment. John Hunt Morgan - In Mexico: Traveling south, he saw action at the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847. A gifted soldier, he won promotion to first lieutenant. With the conclusion of the war, Morgan left the service and returned home to Kentucky. Establishing himself as a hemp manufacturer, he married Rebecca Gratz Bruce in 1848. Though a businessman, Morgan remained interested in military matters and attempted to form a militia artillery company in 1852. This group disbanded two years later and in 1857, Morgan formed the pro-South Lexington Rifles. An ardent supporter of Southern rights, Morgan often clashed with his wifes family. John Hunt Morgan - The Civil War Begins: As the secession crisis loomed, Morgan initially hoped that conflict could be avoided. In 1861, Morgan elected to support the Southern cause and flew a rebel flag over his factory. When his wife died on July 21 after suffering from several health problems, including septic thrombophlebitis, he decided to take an active role in the coming conflict. As Kentucky remained neutral, Morgan and his company slipped across the border to Camp Boone in Tennessee. Joining the Confederate Army, Morgan soon formed the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry with himself as colonel. Serving in the Army of Tennessee, the regiment saw action at the Battle of Shiloh on April 6-7, 1862. Developing a reputation as an aggressive commander, Morgan led several successful raids against Union forces. On July 4, 1862, he departed Knoxville, TN with 900 men and swept through Kentucky capturing 1,200 prisoners and wreaking havoc in the Union rear. Likened to American Revolution hero Francis Marion, it was hoped that Morgans performance would help sway Kentucky into the Confederate fold. The success of the raid led General Braxton Bragg to invade the state that fall. Following the invasions failure, the Confederates fell back to Tennessee. On December 11, Morgan was promoted to brigadier general. The next day he married Martha Ready, the daughter of Tennessee Congressman Charles Ready. Later that month, Morgan rode into Kentucky with 4,000 men. Moving north, they disrupted the Louisville Nashville Railroad and defeated a Union force at Elizabethtown. Returning south, Morgan was greeted as a hero. That June, Bragg gave Morgan permission for another raid into Kentucky with the goal of distracting the Union Army of the Cumberland from the upcoming campaign. John Hunt Morgan - The Great Raid: Concerned that Morgan might become too aggressive, Bragg strictly forbade him to cross the Ohio River into Indiana or Ohio. Departing Sparta, TN on June 11, 1863, Morgan rode with a select force of 2,462 cavalry and a battery of light artillery. Moving north through Kentucky, they won several small battles against Union forces. In early July, Morgans men captured two steamboats at Brandenburg, KY. Against orders, he began transporting his men across the Ohio River, landing near Maukport, IN. Moving inland, Morgan raided across southern Indiana and Ohio, causing a panic among the local residents. Alerted to Morgans presence, the commander of the Department of the Ohio, Major General Ambrose Burnside began shifting troops to meet the threat. Deciding to return to Tennessee, Morgan headed for the ford at Buffington Island, OH. Anticipating this move, Burnside rushed troops to the ford. In the resulting battle, Union forces captured 750 of Morgans men and prevented him from crossing. Moving north along the river, Morgan was repeated blocked from crossing with his entire command. After a brief fight at Hockingport, he turned inland with approximately 400 men. Relentlessly pursued by Union forces, Morgan was defeated and captured on July 26 after the Battle of Salinesville. While his men were shipped to the Camp Douglas prison camp in Illinois, Morgan and his officers were taken to the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, OH. After several weeks of incarceration, Morgan, along with six of his officers managed to tunnel out of the prison and escaped on November 27. Proceeding south to Cincinnati, they managed to cross the river into Kentucky where Southern sympathizers aided them in reaching Confederate lines. John Hunt Morgan - Later Career: Though his return was lauded by the Southern press, he was not received with open arms by his superiors. Angry that he had violated his orders to remain south of the Ohio, Bragg never fully trusted him again. Placed in command of Confederate forces in eastern Tennessee and southwest Virginia, Morgan attempted to rebuild the raiding force that he had lost during his Great Raid. In the summer of 1864, Morgan was accused of robbing a bank in Mt. Sterling, KY. While some his men were involved, there is no evidence to suggest that Morgan played a role. While working to clear his name, Morgan and his men encamped at Greeneville, TN. On the morning of September 4, Union troops attacked the town. Taken by surprise, Morgan was shot and killed while attempting to escape from the attackers. After his death, Morgans body was returned to Kentucky where he was buried in Lexington Cemetery.