Aimed at students, teachers and researchers of Public Health, this article searches to contribute to the debate on the possibilities of application of the technique of participant observation in social research in health, especially providing students in Health public (strictu and lato sensu) theoretical-methodological and practical and instrumental subsidies to understand this technique. The motivation comes from the academic and professional experience of the authors, with emphasis on teaching the course "Methodology of social research II: techniques of information", from the Post-Graduate Public Health DCS / ENSP / Fiocruz, in strictu and lato sensu modalities.
health research; social research; participant observation; social research techniques; techniques of information
