Analyzing Social Settings: A Guide to Qualitative Observation and Analysis

This book instructs the reader how to do a social science fieldstudy—a research genre often labeled "ethnography," "qualitative research," and/or "naturalistic research." While field researchers across the social sciences may prefer one label over another, their studies are generally alike in featuring direct, qualitative observation of natural situations or settings primarily using the techniques of participant observation and/or intensive interviewing.

High-quality social science fieldstudies are contingent on the successful completion of the interconnected tasks of gathering, focusing, and analyzing data, as well as writing up the results.

The fourth edition of this classic work is a must for social researchers. The authors make learning how to do qualitative observation and analysis clear and engaging. Their book provides an educational and entertaining road map for pursuing high quality fieldstudies in social science research.

Titles of related interest also available from Waveland Press: Babbie, Observing Ourselves: Essays in Social Research, Second Edition (ISBN 9781478622017) and Emerson, Contemporary Field Research: Perspectives and Formulations, Second Edition (ISBN 9781577661856).