The following extract is taken from my field diary, which I used to record observations I made while recently studying a group of fellow lap-dancers who worked in a club in the north of England.
This interesting and unusual article discusses some of the problems of conducting (mainly) overt participant observation in a marginal occupation — in this case, lap-dancing.The research raised many ethical dilemmas, clearly outlined here, and also the problems caused when a researcher has a ‘dual identity’. Rachela Colosi was not ‘pretending’ to be a lap dancer — that was her actual paid occupation, both before and during her research. There is a good deal of useful information here about some of the dilemmas faced by researchers undertaking participant observation, and the author explains how she tried to face them and deal with them.This clear account of a particular method in use will benefit all students, as the study of methods is an integral part of A-level sociology.
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
