Effective Field Research: Institutional Insights & Data Collection
Institutional Informants
Institutional informants are valuable because their informal ties can provide insights into the everyday reality of the institution. Researchers should be cautious not to be unduly influenced by their opinions.
Coexistence and Social Relations in the Field
The preliminary design should include logistical considerations, such as the observer’s residence. If there’s doubt about the impact of the observer’s accommodation, a hotel or temporary residence is preferable. In closed settings, a space that allows observation without disturbing the group is ideal. Social relations with the group will evolve over time. Interactions will naturally spark curiosity, and researchers should provide information about their presence as appropriate, without affecting the investigation’s outcome. Act naturally, based on the information provided to justify your presence.
Anxiety, impatience, and frustration may arise, which should be addressed with patience and by consulting with experienced colleagues.
Information to Register
Record any information relevant to the research, based on preliminary theoretical orientations, which may be adjusted as the field work progresses. The researcher should note stimuli that are significant for the study. Information should be captured through writing or recording.
When defining the observation, we can use Corbetta’s classification:
- The physical context: Observe the structure of the space where social action occurs, as physical characteristics often reflect social characteristics.
- The social and historical context: When studying a social movement, understand its organizational structure, the profile of its members, their functions, tasks, and activities.
- The formal interactions: Note interactions within organizations or institutions, such as decision-making processes and key personnel.
- The informal interactions: These are the focus of participant observation, occurring in everyday life and often consisting of unconscious actions.
- The interpretations of social actors: Access these through informal conversations and formal interviews.
Registering the Observed
The crucial moment is when data recording begins. Here are some guidelines for collecting information, which have been adjusted with new communication and information technologies: cameras, audio recorders, video, and the Internet.