Participant observation arises from the in situ approach and forms a fundamental method of the discipline. It involves actively or passively participating in the daily lives of the group of interest, observing, and inquiring with all senses into what is relevant to the specific research question. Depending on the research topic, participant observation is complemented by various other data collection methods.
A central characteristic of ethnographic research is its dialogical nature. This means it always occurs in interaction with research participants and is embedded in social and emotional relationships.

Source: Field research, Anne Voigt with CoCoMaterial, 2023, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Different documentation techniques are used to capture findings, ranging from (handwritten) notes, extensive observation and interview protocols, audio recordings, and photographic and film recordings to sketches, plans, and collecting material cultural objects. Ethnographers aim to document everything that catches their attention in the field, often resulting in an extensive corpus of material. Field notes are typically interspersed with personal thoughts and reflections on the researchers’ physical, sensory, and emotional experiences, making them highly subjective rather than strictly objective documents.