Shadowing as a Tool for Studying Elites

• In Event: Qualitative Field Research, Research Quality & Research Transparency

Abstract

This paper offers a description and discussion of “shadowing” as a data collection tool, highlighting potential research opportunities related to the direct observation of individuals in their normal, daily routine for an extended period of time, often between one day and one week. In contrast with large-scale data collection methods, including surveys, shadowing enables researchers to develop detailed observations of political behavior that are not limited by the availability of administrative data or the constraints of a questionnaire or interview guide. Unlike more in-depth qualitative methods, such as ethnography, shadowing is scalable in a manner that allows for larger sample sizes and the potential for medium-N descriptive inference. I provide a detailed account of how to design and conduct a shadowing study, including sampling strategies, techniques for coding shadowing data, and processes for drawing descriptive inferences about the behavior of political elites. I also consider key benefits of, and potential challenges to, shadowing, and how to maximize opportunities for utilization of this technique as part of a broader research agenda.

This article was prepared as a part of the Qualitative Data Repository's Annotation for Transparent Inquiry Challenge and includes in-text comments that serve as annotations to related material.

Author

• Jennifer L. Bussell, University of California, Berkeley