Unobtrusive Research

Types of Unobtrusive Research

Unobtrusive research methods evoke thoughts of historical research or of observations in which the researcher can play the role of a complete observer. However, there is much more to this type of research than the obvious. In the literature, attempts have been made to categorize unobtrusive research methods. Webb et al. discussed erosion and accretion measures. In the former category are things that demonstrate wear (e.g., worn pages in a book), while the latter category focuses on the build up of things (e.g., the build up of garbage or accumulation of books in a personal library). Another way is to look at these methods through print and nonprint categories. This entry provides a brief description of some of the methods subsumed under this broad categorization of unobtrusive research and the resources used. The method and the resources used by the researcher depend on the purpose of the research project, the availability of the items, and on her or his training, imagination, and creative spirit. Data analysis for unobtrusive research includes content, thematic, or semiotic analysis. For a discussion of these analytic methods, readers are advised to consult other entries in this text, as well as other authoritative sources.

Print Materials

The examination of print material falls under the rubric of unobtrusive research because there is usually no direct contact with the original writer. Researchers, such as historians, use current as well as archival documents, such as diaries, letters, newspapers, historical pamphlets, broadsheets, government documents, and census data, to name a few. Tombstones provide a wealth of information on family histories, wars, immigration, health, and the justice system. Graffiti can be studied from a social or linguistic perspective. Textbooks can be perused to determine how information on a topic has changed over the years. For example, a researcher may examine all the editions of a medical textbook to follow the social, cultural, and medical evolution of a disease. Pharmaceutical advertisements in magazines can shed light on gender issues. In case studies where the emphasis is on gaining a good understanding of phenomena within a particular setting, there is a good marriage between obtrusive (e.g., interviews or overt observation) and unobtrusive methods. Researchers often comb through the emails, memos, minutes of meetings, annual reports, and so on of the case under investigation. Maps or floor plans can also provide unexpected information about activities within and the social milieu of an institution. Other print sources available to researchers are photographs, paintings, and sheet [Page 905]music. Art historians study paintings to understand the different periods of an artist's career. Photographs can be used to study architecture, automobiles, genealogy, or fashion trends. Dictionaries and thesauri, such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings or the American Psychological Association's Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, can be consulted to trace gender and social changes. There are so many print resources that can be used in unobtrusive research that it is not possible to list them all. Interested researchers can read more about these topics in the list of further readings below.

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