摘要：Participant observation is an appropriate research method for engaged practitioner–scholars seeking in-depth insights available from qualitative field research. Conventional approaches to participant observation include ethnography and action research. However, conventional approaches as they originally were developed assumed that the roles of practitioner and scholar are separate. We propose a new approach, engaged participant observation, that recognizes the integration of research and practice roles and strives for both scientific and pragmatic rigor. We illustrate the application of engaged participant observation, and its particular tensions, based on the completed executive doctoral dissertation conducted by the second author and supervised by the first author. We address the tensions associated with engaged participant observation, including issues of identity, potentially biased interpretation, ethical conduct, and publication. Our analysis compares these issues across three participant observation methods and provides pragmatic guidance for qualitative field research in organizations in which the researcher is an engaged participant.
