ABSTRACT
Sources of research data include people, their words and actions, publications, material culture and any item or symbol that communicates a message of any kind. Data-gathering methods include watching how people act; asking them questions about their opinions, attitudes or perceptions; reading what they have written; watching their movements; listening to their songs and other sounds; rummaging through their garbage; examining their tools, toys and weapons; and deciphering their signs, symbols or facial expressions, and many others. This chapter discusses some of the ways that researchers go about examining textual material, cultural artifacts, body language and similar types of written and unwritten communications, records, documents, signs and symbols.
