Ethnographic Design

1. EthnographicDesign Randy Huberman Ariel Johnsey Steve McGuire

2. What we will talk about… • 1st – What is Ethnographic Design • 2nd – When to use Ethnographic Design • 3rd – How to develop an Ethnography

3. What is Ethnographic Research? • Qualitative research method • Used to describe, analyze, and interpret culture • Significant time needs to be spent “in the field”

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. What are Ethnographers Looking For? • Shared Patterns – common social interaction that stabilizes the rules and expectations of the group • Behaviors • Beliefs • Language

9. 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

10. Advantages and Disadvantages Pros Cons Dependent on researcher’s observations No or little numerical data, therefore hard to check validity Impossible to eliminate observer bias Hard to plan for the path the study will take • Comprehensive perspective • Observe behavior in its natural setting • Works when results cannot be quantified • Good for observing behavior over an extensive period of time

11. 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

12. Who uses ethnographies? • Ethnographic research is common among social and cultural anthropologists. • Researchers hope to gain a better understanding of different divisions of cultures

13. 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

14. Examples of ethnographic studies • Research on the smokers community – Bumming cigarettes • Research on education – Studying abroad • Research on gender and sexuality – GLBT community

15. Participant Observations • Take part in the culture you are studying

16. Interviews • Getting to know your sample • Asking questions • Allowing your subject to feel safe

17. Reporting results • How do you inform others of what you researched? • How well was your question defined?

18. The Steps in Creating an Ethnography • Identify Intent and the Type of Design • Discuss Approval and Access Considerations • Collect Data Using Appropriate Methods • Analyze and Interpret Data • Write Final Report Consistent with Your Design

19. Identify Intent and the Type of Design • Why are you undertaking this study? • What are your themes or puposes • Realist Ethnography • May look at enculturation, acculturation, socialization • Case Study • Look to asses intrinsic merit or understand an issue • Critical Ethnography • Seek to address an inequity and suggest change

20. Discuss Approval and Access Considerations • Receive approval from an institutional review board • Decide on a sample • Locate a “gatekeeper” to the sample to be studied • Discuss considerations to disturb the site as little as possible

21. Collect Data Using Appropriate Methods • Realist Ethnography • Interviews, Artifacts, Drawings, Relics • Data should lead to an in-depth understanding of culture • Case Studies • Interviews, Observations, Video/Audio Recordings • Data should be extensive and varied • Critical Ethnography • Collaborate with the participants to collect data that they provide • Participants should participate in collection and analysis

22. Analyze and Interpret Data • Realist Ethnography • Develop an overall understanding of the data • Develop themes and make interpretations • Case Study • Develop an overall understanding of the data • Develop of context for the case to fit in • Critical Ethnography • Develop an overall understanding of the data • Develop critical themes and identify changes that need to occur

23. Write Final Report Consistent with Your Design • Realist Ethnography • Report should be an objective study • The researcher should remain in the background • Case Study • Report should focus on the case • Researcher can choose to be objective or subjective • Critical Ethnography • Report should be a call to action on the critical issue • A specific plan of action should be included

24. Works Cited Creswell, J. W. (2012). Ethnographic Designs. Educational research: planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (4th ed., pp. 461-500). Boston: Pearson. Fraenkel, J. R., Wallen, N. E., & Hyun, H. (2011). Ethnographic Research. How to design and evaluate research in education (8th ed., pp. 506-533). New York: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.