Russel-Research-Method-in-Anthropology

Direct and Indirect Observation 421
PROBLEM AREAS OBSERVATION CATEGORIES
1
Shows solidarity, raises other's
status, gives help, rewards
Positive Reactions
A
2
Shows tension release, jokes,
laughs, shows satisfaction
3
Agrees, shows passive acceptance,
understands, concurs, complies
4
Gives suggestions, direction,
implying autonomy for other
Attempted Answers
Questions
Negative Reactions
B
C
D
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Gives opinion, evaluation,
analysis, expresses feelings, wishes
Gives orientation, information,
repeats, clarifies, confirms
Asks for orientation, information,
repetition, confirmation
Asks for opinion, evaluation,
analysis, expression of feeling
Asks for suggestions, direction,
possible ways of action
Disagrees, shows passive rejection,
formality, withholds help
Shows tension, asks for help,
withdraws out of field
Shows antagonism, deflates other's
status, defends or asserts self
Figure 15.2. Categories for direct observation.
SOURCE: Adapted from R. F. Bales, Social Interaction Systems: Theory and Measurement, p. 165. 2001,
Transaction Publishers. Reprinted by permission.
(see Lange 1975). If you are trying to understand the meaning of complex
human body movement, you’ve got to start with some way to record the basic
data, like any other text. Brenda Farnell used Laban’s script (known as labanotation)
in her meticulous research on Plains Indian sign language (1995)
and has written extensively about how the system can be used in the anthropo-