ABSTRACT
The experience was most valuable, but it became clear that to use conceptual categories developed a priori and outside the context of the nurses' work was inappropriate. The ensuing discussion aims to review the chief issues surrounding the method of participant observation. The term is seen by Ragucci as synonymous with ethnography because the method of participant observation is so commonly the mainstay of ethnography. One problem is the effect the observer has on the setting. It seems clear that in many situations, both journalistic and scientific, this effect declines in magnitude with increasing trust, acceptance and unobtrusiveness of the researcher with an adequately negotiated position. Most of all, knowing the patients well makes playing a credible role either as researcher or teacher possible, and this can be achieved by working consistently in the same area. Gans discusses the fear of rejection by the hosts in the middle of the project due perhaps to some tactless blunder by the researcher.
