What method focuses on careful observation and recording of events in context, often at risk of "going native"?

The method that emphasizes careful observation and recording of events in context is participant observation. This approach is a hallmark of ethnographic research, where the researcher immerses themselves in the daily life of the community being studied. By engaging directly with the participants, researchers gain deeper insights into social practices, behaviors, and cultural norms that might not be accessible through other research methods.

The risk of "going native" refers to the challenge researchers face when they become so involved with the community that they may lose their objectivity or fail to critically analyze the culture they are studying. This immersion allows for a nuanced understanding but also poses the risk of blending in too much to maintain a critical perspective.

Other methods, such as structured interviews, do not typically involve the same level of immersion and contextual observation. Structured interviews emphasize the collection of specific data through predetermined questions, limiting the scope for observing interactions or behaviors in their natural context. Case studies can provide in-depth insights about particular instances but usually do not involve the ongoing interaction that participant observation entails. Surveys primarily gather quantitative data through questionnaires, lacking the qualitative, context-rich observations that participant observation provides.