Ethnographic Design
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Transcript of Ethnographic Design
EthnographicDesign
Randy HubermanAriel Johnsey
Steve McGuire
What is Ethnographic Research?
• Qualitative research method• Used to describe, analyze, and interpret
culture• Significant time needs to be spent “in the
field”
How Did Ethnographic Research Develop?
• Began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries• Solidifies in the 1950s• The “watershed” event was the publication of
Writing Culture, by Clifford & Marcus in 1986
Realist Ethnography
• An objective account of a situation gained through observation
• Usually narrated in 3rd person• Should contain no bias, political goals, or
judgment• Participants views are presented in direct
quotations
Case Studies
• Studies individuals or groups involved in a process
• If the case is unusual it is an intrinsic case• If the case illustrates an issue it is an
instrumental case• Collective case studies encompass multiple
cases
Critical Ethnographies
• Studies of social issues such as power, inequality, dominance, repression, and victimization
• Studies are done with the interest of improving the situation
• Not an objective method. The researcher is “in the text”
• Often messy and multilevel
What are Ethnographers Looking For?
• Shared Patterns – common social interaction that stabilizes the rules and expectations of the group
• Behaviors• Beliefs• Language
Fieldwork – Types of Data
• Emic Data – Information provided by participants– First order concepts
• Etic Data – Information representing the researcher’s interpretation– Second order concepts
• Negotiation Data – Information that the researcher and the participants agree to use
When should ethnographic research be used?
• Ethnographic research is when the researcher wants to learn more about a specific person or group of people
• Results are qualitative
Who uses ethnographies?
• Ethnographic research is common among social and cultural anthropologists.
• Researchers hope to gain a better understanding of different divisions of cultures
What are issues with ethnographies?
• Ethics– Do not “out” any specific
people• Your sample– Is your sample an
accurate representation of a population?
• Data analysis– How do you organize your
data – dealing with people’s stories
Examples of ethnographic studies
• Research on the smokers community – Bumming cigarettes
• Research on education – Studying abroad
• Research on gender and sexuality – GLBT community
Participant Observations
• Take part in the culture you are studying
Interviews
• Getting to know your sample
• Asking questions• Allowing your subject to
feel safe
Reporting results
• How do you inform others of what you researched?
• How well was your question defined?