Observing places: using space and material culture in qualitative research

Abstract

A significant amount of qualitative research takes place in the field. Yet the notion of analysing the place and material objects that contribute to the interactions and in situ behaviour of the participants is often overlooked. This article shows how an analysis of space and material culture contributes to an understanding of social and structural relationships in qualitative research. We use examples from a study of a technology company to demonstrate how an analysis of space and material culture added insights into power, identity and status. We conclude that the tacit insights derived from space and material culture analysis, when synthesized with analysis of other data enable researchers to gain new perspectives on the social world.