Universal Methods of Design

RESEARCH METHOD

59 Participant Observation

Participant observation is an immersive, ethnographic method for understanding situations and behaviors through the experience of membership participation in an activity, context, culture, or subculture.

Participant observation, or PO, is a foundational method of anthropology, adapted for design use.¹ Whereas anthropologists may immerse themselves as participants in a context or culture for extended periods of time, design researchers will typically have a more time-limited engagement. However, the intent is the same, for the designer-researcher to actively participate in the community, forming deep connections ...