Getting up close and personal: Using peer research assistants for participant observation in a youth alcohol project

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of peer researchers in participant observation.Design/methodology/approachThe research involved interviews with 11 fieldworkers aged 18–25 years.FindingsThe method improves access to settings and provides useful context information on participants.Research limitations/implicationsIt is a useful method in situations where normal access to participants and settings is problematic.Originality/valueThe paper is the first ever evaluation of supervised peer research (as opposed to peer-led research).