Question

What did Salancik mean by "field stimulations"?

a) Being immersed in the field can help to simulate the experience of your informants
b) Researchers can intervene in and manipulate a setting to observe the effects
c) Surveys conducted in the field are more effective than structured observation
d) Some researchers find their projects so stimulating that they have to lie down

Answer 1

Field stimulations refer to the immersive approach that researchers take in field research by becoming a part of their subjects' natural environments and partaking in participant observation to collect rich data.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept of field stimulations as described by Salancik relates to the immersive methods used in field research. This approach involves a researcher becoming a part of their subjects' natural environment, which could be anywhere from a coffee shop to a tribal village or a DMV. This immersion allows sociologists or other researchers to observe, participate in, and experience the worlds they are studying, leading to a deeper understanding of the social dynamics and cultures involved. Participant observation is a core aspect of this method, where the researcher not only watches but also interacts with the subjects within their natural setting. Such firsthand involvement is critical for gathering nuanced data that might not be as evident through other forms of research like laboratory experiments or surveys.