Using participant or non-participant observation to explain information behaviour. Participant observation, Non-participant observation, Information behaviour, Hospital pharmacists, Older people
The aim of the paper is to provide guidance on conducting participant and non-participant observation studies of information behaviour. Examines lessons learned during non-participant observation of hospital pharmacists, and participant observation with dependent older people living in their own hom...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Borås
2004-01-01
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| Series: | Information Research: An International Electronic Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://informationr.net/ir/9-4/paper184.html |
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| author | Janet Cooper Rachael Lewis Christine Urquhart |
| author_facet | Janet Cooper Rachael Lewis Christine Urquhart |
| author_sort | Janet Cooper |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of the paper is to provide guidance on conducting participant and non-participant observation studies of information behaviour. Examines lessons learned during non-participant observation of hospital pharmacists, and participant observation with dependent older people living in their own homes. Describes the methods used in both studies, and discusses the ethical issues involved in gaining access to the subjects. In the hospital setting, professional affiliation between the researcher and the subjects (six pharmacists) made access easier to obtain. In the home care setting, access to subjects (seven clients) for participant observation (as a care worker) was more difficult, as was withdrawal from the field study. In both studies, the observation element was triangulated with survey data. Both studies indicated the fundamental need for trust between the observer and the research subjects. In some situations, professional relations offer instant access and trust, whereas in closed and sensitive situations such as social care, time is required to build up trust. With participant observation, that trust should not be damaged by withdrawal of the researcher from the research setting. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8cc3f39c534c4b33b4fea1d70dbf9a68 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1368-1613 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2004-01-01 |
| publisher | University of Borås |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Information Research: An International Electronic Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-8cc3f39c534c4b33b4fea1d70dbf9a682025-02-02T20:33:39ZengUniversity of BoråsInformation Research: An International Electronic Journal1368-16132004-01-0194184Using participant or non-participant observation to explain information behaviour. Participant observation, Non-participant observation, Information behaviour, Hospital pharmacists, Older peopleJanet CooperRachael LewisChristine UrquhartThe aim of the paper is to provide guidance on conducting participant and non-participant observation studies of information behaviour. Examines lessons learned during non-participant observation of hospital pharmacists, and participant observation with dependent older people living in their own homes. Describes the methods used in both studies, and discusses the ethical issues involved in gaining access to the subjects. In the hospital setting, professional affiliation between the researcher and the subjects (six pharmacists) made access easier to obtain. In the home care setting, access to subjects (seven clients) for participant observation (as a care worker) was more difficult, as was withdrawal from the field study. In both studies, the observation element was triangulated with survey data. Both studies indicated the fundamental need for trust between the observer and the research subjects. In some situations, professional relations offer instant access and trust, whereas in closed and sensitive situations such as social care, time is required to build up trust. With participant observation, that trust should not be damaged by withdrawal of the researcher from the research setting.http://informationr.net/ir/9-4/paper184.htmlParticipant observationNon-participant observationInformation behaviourHospital pharmacistsOlder peopleElderlySenior citizensEthicsSurvey dataTrustInformation behavior |
| spellingShingle | Janet Cooper Rachael Lewis Christine Urquhart Using participant or non-participant observation to explain information behaviour. Participant observation, Non-participant observation, Information behaviour, Hospital pharmacists, Older people Information Research: An International Electronic Journal Participant observation Non-participant observation Information behaviour Hospital pharmacists Older people Elderly Senior citizens Ethics Survey data Trust Information behavior |
| title | Using participant or non-participant observation to explain information behaviour. Participant observation, Non-participant observation, Information behaviour, Hospital pharmacists, Older people |
| title_full | Using participant or non-participant observation to explain information behaviour. Participant observation, Non-participant observation, Information behaviour, Hospital pharmacists, Older people |
| title_fullStr | Using participant or non-participant observation to explain information behaviour. Participant observation, Non-participant observation, Information behaviour, Hospital pharmacists, Older people |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using participant or non-participant observation to explain information behaviour. Participant observation, Non-participant observation, Information behaviour, Hospital pharmacists, Older people |
| title_short | Using participant or non-participant observation to explain information behaviour. Participant observation, Non-participant observation, Information behaviour, Hospital pharmacists, Older people |
| title_sort | using participant or non participant observation to explain information behaviour participant observation non participant observation information behaviour hospital pharmacists older people |
| topic | Participant observation Non-participant observation Information behaviour Hospital pharmacists Older people Elderly Senior citizens Ethics Survey data Trust Information behavior |
| url | http://informationr.net/ir/9-4/paper184.html |
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