Which term describes the research method where researchers actively engage with participants?

The term that best describes the research method where researchers actively engage with participants is ethnographic. Ethnography involves immersive observation and interaction, allowing researchers to gather rich, qualitative data through direct involvement in the participants' environment and experiences. This approach emphasizes understanding culture and behavior from the perspective of the individuals being studied, often through interviews, participant observations, and fieldwork.

Cultural communication focuses on the way communication practices relate to cultural contexts but does not specifically denote the method of engaging with participants. Quantitative research primarily involves numerical data and statistical analysis, often utilizing surveys or experiments, rather than direct engagement. Textual analysis deals with interpreting and critiquing written or spoken texts, but it does not involve active participation with subjects in the way ethnographic methods do.