Rodriguez and Ryave (both, sociology; at Hawaii Community College and California State U.-Donimguez Hills, respectively) develop and illustrate various ways by which self-observation data can be situated, aggregated, and subjected to analysis. They stress that self-observation can often be validated as accurate. The approach presented draws on work in ethnomethodology and conversational analysis, and is especially valuable at gaining access to phenomena that are not captured by questionnaires, interviews, and direct observation. Cases present methodology and results from studies of lies and secrets in everyday life, withholding of compliments, and envy in social comparisons. There is no subject index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) More Reviews and Recommendations

Tags: systematic self observation