Watching Closely: Reflections on the Methods of Direct Observation

Abstract

Ethnographers rely on three related activities to conduct research in the field: observation, conversation, and participation. Observing others in their environments and using this data to inform and share conclusions is an essential part of any fieldworker's toolkit. Of these three activities, ethnographers' observational muscles tend to be their weakest.

In this talk, Christena Nippert-Eng offers her own contribution to the strengthening of direct observation research based on her recent book, Watching Closely: A Guide to Ethnographic Observation (Oxford, Nov 2015). The book includes nine exercises for practicing observational skills, including a preparatory briefing and post-exercise discussion. A companion website includes sample responses to each exercise from previous students, who practiced by observing Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo gorillas.

Nippert-Eng hopes to encourage the use of more creative ways of collecting and analyzing data, such as sketching, diagramming, and photography, while helping fieldworkers develop more concrete expectations for the potential uses and meanings of ethnographic data. The goal is for ethnographers to not only strengthen their core skills, mindset, and creativity, but also to produce research that is more scientifically rigorous and persuasive.

Workshop attendees will get a sneak peek at Nippert-Eng’s next book as well, Gorillas Up Close (Henry Holt, April 2016). This is an ethnographic picture book on the daily lives and design needs of captive western lowland gorillas, written for middle grade readers and up. The book was produced in collaboration with former design, architecture, and social science students from the observation methods course on which Watching Closely is based, in part to demonstrate the potential value of direct observation methods.