Unobtrusive research methods

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How to do research when you cannot get access to people

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ACS 301

Slide 1

ACS 301October 23, 2008

Qual Methods IV: Unobtrusive Methods

ACS 301

Slide 2

Key themes

• Types of unobtrusive methods– Content analysis

• Quantitative• Qualitative

– Conversation analysis– Semiotics– Hermeneutics– Discourse analysis

• The drawbacks

ACS 301

Slide 3

What is “unobtrusive”?

I’d like to analyze this conversation. It just so happens to be on television!

I’d like to analyze this conversation. It just so happens to be on television!

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ACS 301

Slide 4

What is “unobtrusive”?

I’d like to analyze this conversation. It just so happens to be on television!

I’d like to analyze this conversation. It just so happens to be on television!

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Unobtrusive: adjective. 1. Not obtrusive. Not blatant, aggressive or arresting. 2. Inconspicuous

Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 2008.

ACS 301

Slide 5

Why use unobtrusive methods?

ACS 301

Slide 6

Why use unobtrusive methods?

• Access• Unique opportunity

ACS 301

Slide 7

Physical traces of people

The Garbage Project at the University of Arizona examines what people throw away (and what they don’t).

The Garbage Project at the University of Arizona examines what people throw away (and what they don’t).

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Dr. William Rathje, Project Director

ACS 301

Slide 8

Content analysis

Analyzing “content” in:

Analyzing “content” in:

ACS 301

Slide 9

An example of content analysis

Are some crimes given more prominent placement in the

newspaper than others?

ACS 301

Slide 10

Quantitative content analysis

ACS 301

Slide 11

Qualitative content analysis

ACS 301

Slide 12

Semiotics

Signifier

Signifier

“allow other cars”

Signified

“allow other cars”

Signified SignSign

+ =

ACS 301

Slide 13

Hermeneutics Part I: analyze the content

The film

The film

ACS 301

Slide 14

Hermeneutics Part II: analyze social, historical context

The state of the film industry

The state of the film industry

The people who make

films

The people who make

films

Current ideas of the

time

Current ideas of the

time

The film

The film

ACS 301

Slide 15

Conversation analysis

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1 C Can I just briefly ask why: you thought about having

2 an HIV test done:

3 P. hh. We:ll I mean it’s something that you have these

4 I mean that you have to think about these

1 C Can I just briefly ask why: you thought about having

2 an HIV test done:

3 P. hh. We:ll I mean it’s something that you have these

4 I mean that you have to think about these

ACS 301

Slide 16

Discourse analysis

“Discourse”:

“Discourse”:

AnalysisAnalysis

Understanding what

“the problem” is

Understanding what

“the problem” is

ACS 301

Slide 17

The drawbacks to unobtrusive

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