Anthropology (ANTH) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Participant observation is a qualitative research method widely used in anthropology and sociology where the researcher immerses themselves in a community or group by actively participating in its everyday activities while also documenting their observations. This approach allows the researcher to gain a deeper understanding of social dynamics, cultural practices, and individual behaviors from an insider's perspective. By being involved, the researcher can gather nuanced insights that might be missed through indirect observation.

The other choices do not accurately depict participant observation. Surveys alone, for instance, do not involve the active engagement of the researcher in the environment being studied. Similarly, studying an environment from a distance lacks the direct interaction and personal experience that are vital to participant observation. Lastly, relying solely on secondary sources means that the researcher is not engaging directly with participants or events, further differentiating it from participant observation which emphasizes firsthand experience.