Anthropological and psychoanalytical observation: theoretical and methodological dialogues in a doctorate programme in mother and child health

participant observation can vary considerably depending on the theoretical inspiration, nature/design of the research and relationship researcher-subjects. in the ethnographic study developed in brazil (july 2009 - august 2010), among other techniques used, bick's observation (rooted in psychoanalysis) was introduced and adapted. the aim was to understand processes involved in the communication between professionals at a family health strategy and mothers/dyads (mother-baby) about breast feeding. based on this study, a sandwich project was designed: to develop a deeper understanding of bick's theoretical and practical approach, its relevance for research and broader applications; to promote a transdisciplinary dialogue between anthropological and psychoanalytic observation. as a student at tavistock (uk) i attended seminars and developed observations in another variation of the setting. aware of the ethics of the method, tavistock has been widening its' scope, not seeing it as a unique model, but a comprehensive way of thinking human uniqueness, facilitating the researcher's capacity for self-analysis and a diversity of applications. although my reflections are preliminary, the potential of bick's to innovate research methods cannot be ignored. in the contemporary field of mother-child health we do not face a single concept of science, but new/renewed paradigms of thought and diversity of methods.