ABSTRACT
This second case study deals directly with the relations between person, problem, and method and represents an experientially defined second phase of my socialization process. For ease in presentation, the discussions of person, problem, and method are separated, although they constantly interact. The person undertaking this research project was a graduate student en rolled in a particular school of sociology; the problem studied was a feature of patient life in a mental hospital; and the method used was participant observation. All three factors had bearing on one another. The analysis of this participant observa tion study is concerned with its experienced dimensions in con trast with its idealized or generalized description. Through
experiential analysis, untreated features of the participant ob servation research process are uncovered. Instead of attempting a comprehensive analysis of this method, my focus is on its di lemmas and value as an opportunity for self-analysis. The sub stantive problem of this study is mentioned in passing where relevant.
