Steps in Participant Observation:
D. Integrating Data Collection and Analysis
• Organizing field notes into different types of files facilitates
data analysis
• Master field file – complete journal of field notes; number
pages and include entry dates
• Background, history file – subfile organizing background
material
• Key character files – subfiles on key players in the group
or organization
• Analytic files – subfiles for different types of observations
or relationships