Unobtrusive Measures in Research

An unobtrusive measure in research is examining social artifacts, traces, or other materials and or events that were intended for other reasons prior to the initial research. Unobtrusive research strategies consist of examining what individuals do, why they behave the way they do and provide insight on the structures of their daily lives.

Other strategies associated with unobtrusive measures include garbology. The science of garbology, originated in 1973 and was initiated as a project with the University of Arizona’s Garbage Project. This project is still active today. Garbology is a key resource that provides information on the environment and altering patterns in contemporary refuse, and human society. For example, the infamous museum the Smithsonian currently has an exhibition called Bearing Witness to History. This exhibition displays debris from 09/11/2001, items consist of a melted computer screen from the Pentagon, torn clothing and multiple distorted items from the World Trade Center. In most cases these items would be considered destroyed and of no value but garbologist these are historical artifacts that carry a significant meaning. These items provide unobtrusive data that may be very difficult for one to examine, but on the other hand these various items provide meaningful facts.

This week in class we were asked to pick a photo that our professor randomly selected for our exercise. Most of the photos were already taken, but one photo in particular called out to me. The random photo was of an adolescent participating in a youth rodeo. The youth reminded me of my stepson. He’s nine years old and participates in south Texas youth rodeos. My professor nor my classmates had any idea that he participates in such events, but I found this photo to be ironic since my research project is on youth sports and activities. My stepson although he is nine years old he participates in variety of events just like this youth in photo. While examining the photo of the adolescent with the goat I thought of Stock Show & Rodeo. Most weekends are spent competing in roping, barrel and pole racing events.