The “Outsider's” Role in a Field Study, Trice HM,
Sociology
and Social Research, Vol.22 (Sept-Oct.), 27-32, 1956
“This
report is interested in adding to the growing body of knowledge about
the “outsider's” role that is thrust upon a field researcher in
almost all situations. Kluckhohn fifteen years ago, stated that, "the
investigator is never able to shake off entirely his role of
outsider, and I am in accord with those who maintain that it is not
advisable for him to do so. Some exceedingly valuable information
comes to the outsider simply because he is one." Later Merton
states that, in connection with a study of a planned community,
"informants will not hesitate to make certain private views
known to a disinterested outside observer - views which would not be
expressed were it thought that they would get back to management; the
outsider has 'stranger' value.
The
effectiveness of this strategy was recently demonstrated to the
present writer in what seemed to be an almost impossible research
situation. The research question concerned what experiences and
attitudes discriminated alcoholics who had successfully affiliated
with Alcoholics Anonymous from those alcoholics who had been unable
to affiliate with A.A.”
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