Participant Observation

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Of the myriad of social issues I have encountered, the one I choose is homelessness. This is such a prevalent issue in this country these days and there seems to be no end in sight. Two very common research methods used to study this phenomenon are participant observation, and case studies. Participant Observation.
Participant observation or fieldwork is defined as “research in which the researcher participates in a research setting while observing what is happening in that setting” (Henslin, 2013, p. 27). This can be done at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries, and other such places where the homeless population go for assistance. Such places offer the researcher an opportunity to observe the interactions of homeless individuals and groups.
Case Studies. …show more content…

With participant observation, one can learn the social dynamics that develop in the homeless population to help and find solutions to any of the underlying issues that accompany living on the streets. On the other hand, this form of research may not gleam any light on the actual causes of homelessness.
With utilizing case studies, one can learn more about the situation from an individual level. Researchers can learn not only about the current situation, but also about the possible causes. In addition, but reviewing numerous case studies and comparing the data retrieved from these studies, one can find patterns that may gleam even more light on said issue.
I would like to add that another common research method used when collecting data on the homeless population is surveys. This is done here in Los Angeles once a year in the form of a Homeless Censes, where researchers gather information directly from the individuals experiencing life on the streets. This is one of the most effective ways for us to get a general idea of the demographics affected by

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