SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN QUALITATIVE FIELD RESEARCH
    The Various Roles of the Observer
    Relations to Subjects

    Sometimes the field research simply observes.  At times, it may be appropriate to interview participants in the action.  And sometimes field research is known as participant observation, when the field researcher actually participates in the unfolding social action.

    Field researchers also have a choice as to whether they should identify themselves as researchers to the people they are studying.  As you'll see, research ethics argue against lying, and yet revealing your identity as a researcher might change the behavior of those you want to study.  This situation represents a dilemma that field researchers must resolve on a case to case basis.

    Field research also brings us face-to-face with the issue of status and power relationships between researchers and subjects.  The early anthrologists, for example, clearly held themselves as superior to the "primitive" people they studied.  The myths and legends of native peoples were no match for the scientific knowledge of the researchers.  In recent years, however, social researchers have become increasingly sensitive to such implicit assumptions and many have sought to do away with the traditional power relationships.