In order to investigate identity maintenance strategies used by a low status group, a covert participant observation study was conducted in a shelter for the homeless. From Social Identity Theory and previous research on the homeless, it was hypothesized that the identity maintenance strategies used would di€er as a function of longevity of homelessness: the shortterm homeless (52 years) would ...

Zusammenfassung: Ethnographen zeigen sich fasziniert durch ihre Felderfahrungen. Doch obwohl sie sich als teilnehmende Beobachter identifizieren, haben sie keine Theorie des Beobachtens entwickelt. Systemtheoretiker verfügen über eine Theorie der Beobachtung zweiter Ordnung, aber sie vermeiden Feldforschungen. In unserem Beitrag argumentieren wir, dass Systemtheorie und Ethnographie einander ef...

In this essay I reflect on the ethical challenges of ethnographic fieldwork I personally experienced in a female gambling study. By assuming a covert research role, I was able to observe natural occurrences of female gambling activities but unable to make peace with disturbing feelings of my research concealment. By making my study overt, I was able to fulfill ethical obligations as a researche...