Participant observation

Participant observation is a central anthropological research technique that consists of recording and interpreting information acquired through participation and observation (DeWalt and DeWalt 2000: 259). Participant observation is not only relevant because it helps the researcher recognize what is happening in an investigated group; in addition, it relies on something more fundamental. The researchers who cooperate with others engage in symbolic transactions with them leading to insights derived from actively co-operating. (Atkinson, Coffey and Delamont 2003: 115). This cooperation helps researchers to partially assume the role of others and thus share something of perspectives that are intrinsic to their social worlds.