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Observation

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Abstract

Observation is a major means by which people develop their knowledge of the world they live in. Similarly, sociologists make widespread use of observation in developing their understanding of the social world. Observation studies are undertaken in nearly all areas of sociological enquiry but have been developed in particular in the sociologies of organisation, work, leisure, deviance, and education.

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Further Reading

  • Observation techniques: Burgess, 1984; Friedrichs, 1975; McCall and Simmons, 1969; Rose, 1982; Spradley, 1980.

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  • Ethnography: Burgess, 1982; Denzin, 1970; Filstead, 1970; Hammersley and Atkinson, 1983.

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  • Symbolic interactionism: Blumer, 1969; Charon, 1979; Couch et al., 1986; Manis and Meltzer, 1978; Meltzer et a1., 1975; Rock, 1979; Williams, 1986.

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  • Ethnomethodology: Benson and Hughes, 1983; Cicourel, 1964, 1976; Coulter, 1988; Douglas, 1970, 1971; Garfinkel, 1967; Heritage, 1984; Mehan and Wood, 1975; Rogers, 1983; Sharrock and Anderson, 1986; Turner, 1974.

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  • Topics

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  • Deviance: Aggleton, 1987; Becker, 1963; Box, 1983; Brake and Hale, 1992; Campbell, 1981, 1984; Chambliss, 1978; Cohen, 1971, 1973; Downes and Rock, 1988; Fitzgerald, 1985; Hall et al., 1978; Heidensohn, 1985; Lea and Young, 1984; Luhrman, 1989; Matza, 1964; Parker, 1974; Patrick, 1973; Pfohl, 1986; Polsky, 1971; Smart, 1977; Suchar, 1978; Taylor, 1983; Taylor et al., 1973, 1975; Williams et al., 1984.

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  • Work: Beynon, 1973; Cavendish, 1982; Gabriel, 1988; Hacker, 1989; Harastzi, 1977; Marshall, 1986; Watson, 1987; Westwood, 1984; Wood, 1991.

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© 1993 Lee Harvey and Morag MacDonald

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Harvey, L., MacDonald, M. (1993). Observation. In: Doing Sociology. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-12345-2_6

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