Participant Observation

Important

The course location of this Evers Research & Training course is: Novotel Brainpark, K.P. van der Mandelelaan 150, 3062 MB Rotterdam.

This course will be taught in English unless all participants are Dutch-spoken. If that is the case the teaching language will be Dutch.

Course description

This two-day course is most adequate in the design phase of your project or just before data collection phase. Observation is a basic method of collecting data that assumes the physical presence of the researcher. In fact, observation is, to some extent, part of almost all social science research, but it is by no means always explicitly stated. Sometimes this method takes a central place. (Participant) observation seems easy to do, but it requires a lot of skill from researchers. During this 2-day course, the specific character of both participant and non-participatory observation will be discussed: When is this method useful and desirable? How do we observe? What are the options, the practical or ethical problems and the possible solutions? How do we register data from a (participant) observation? The course has a clear practical emphasis, combining instructor input on the method with students' experiences and research projects around a number of exercises, including a small observation exercise in the period between the two course days, which is recorded and reflected on during the second course day. In addition, sufficient time has been reserved for individual feedback and questions.

Learning objectives

Learning how to observe and write adequate field notes.

Instructional method

Theoretical oriented presentations followed by small exercises and discussions.

Trainer

Dr. Damian Zaitch (Cultural anthropology) is passionate about field observation and data collection.

Group size

6 - 12 participants

Number of credits

0.8 EC

Course fee

Registration for this course is free for PhD candidates of the Graduate School of Life Sciences. A completed registration in MyPhD GSLS is mandatory and will be checked when you apply for the course!

Cancellation and No-show policy

This course is free for GSLS PhD candidates. However, free of charge does not mean free of responsibility. Once you have signed up for a course, we expect you to attend. For every late cancellation or no-show we have had to disappoint others who would have liked to attend. This is our policy:

  • You may cancel free of charge up to 4 weeks before the start of the course by sending an e-mail to pcc@uu.nl. After this date you can only cancel if you have a GSLS PhD candidate to replace you in the course. Send the name and contact information of your replacement to pcc@uu.nl, at least 2 weeks before the start of the course.
  • We expect that you actively attend the full course.

  • Not meeting the above requirements means you will be charged a no-show fee of 325 euro. We will send the invoice after the course has ended. We are unable to make any exceptions, unless you have a valid reason (i.e., illness or death in the family 1st/2nd degree or partner). Your supervisor has to send an e-mail to pcc@uu.nl indicating the reason.

Entrance fee: Registration for this course in the manner as described below, is free for PhD candidates from the Graduate School of Life Sciences. A completed registration in MyPhD GSLS is mandatory and will be checked upon registration!

Location: Novotel Brainpark, Rotterdam

Registration: To register for this course, please send an e-mail to pcc@uu.nl until 2 weeks before the start of the course. When registering, please mention your name, mobile phone and title/date of the desired course, as well as the PhD programme GSLS you are part of and your employer.

The above information will be shared with the teachers at Evers Research & Training. You will receive additional information about the course and preparation from them.

You can cancel free of charge up to 4 weeks before the start of the course by sending an e-mail to pcc@uu.nl. Please read the cancellation and no-show policy above.