Jarod is conducting research on the homeless. For six weeks, he has lived among the homeless "24/7," sleeping on the street or a
t a shelter, and engaging in the same activities as the population he is studying. By doing so, Jarod has been able to gather a broad understanding of the homeless, their needs, and characteristics. In view of this, Jarod is using ________ as a method of gathering data.
Participant observation is a research method in which the researcher engages in the activities of the participants. The researcher assumes the role of the studied group, and takes note about the experiences.
This type of method is especially useful when studying foreign cultures and other out-groups. This way, the researchers may experience certain aspects of the group first-hand (e.g. social relationships or tacit rules).
