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Ethnographic Research: How To.

Ethnographic Research: How To. Presented by : Bob Munson BUKAL Life Care & Counseling Center. Step #1. Choose a Group. Generally, it is best to choose a group that one has access to or good potential for access. (If you have that option)

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Ethnographic Research: How To.

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  1. Ethnographic Research: How To. Presented by : Bob Munson BUKAL Life Care & Counseling Center

  2. Step #1. Choose a Group Generally, it is best to choose a group that one has access to or good potential for access. (If you have that option) A bad choice of group may make the task impossible… or at least miserable.

  3. Step #2. Decide on a Problem What do you want to know about the group? You can change direction, but you should start with a direction. “You cannot change a plan until you first make a plan”

  4. Problem Choice Choose and interesting question that you don’t know the answer to, believe you can get a good answer to, and find usefulness in the answer.

  5. Step #3. Choose a plan of Action • Interviews? • Literary Research? • Walk-thrus/Observation? • Number of informants? • Triangulation? • Type of Interviews?

  6. Types of Interviews • Informal • Unstructured • Semi-structured • Structured <For ethnographic research, most interviews should be unstructured or semi-structured.> Small Group, one-on-one, focus groups?

  7. Step #4. Find a “Good Informant” • Knowledgeable • Embedded in the culture (emic) • Articulate • A “gatekeeper” • Willing to share regarding culture • Willing to help researcher have access to others.

  8. Good Informant • Remember, a good informant is still only one perspective. Get more perspectives. At least 3-5 good sources of information is valuable. • A great deal of similarity between a “good informant” and “man of peace” • Often need to choose a group based on availablity of a good informant. • Sometimes, the gatekeeper is a separate person from a good informant.

  9. Step #5. Interact with community and informants • Use all senses. • Be open-minded, non-judgmental. • Do not proselytize!! Do not preach!! You are there to learn. • Be careful in how one takes notes. Notetaking affects the research. • Utilize dialogue. • Come as a LEARNER!!

  10. THINK before you speak! Is it True? Is it Helpful? Is itImportant? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind? <Learners listen more than speak.>

  11. Values of Ethnographic Research and Dialogue • Breaks down misunderstandings • Opens doors for “them” to learn from “us” • Opens doors for “us” to learn from “them” <Discussion: Is this last point good? Is this last point dangerous?>

  12. Remember • We are children being instructed by mature individuals in their community. (incarnational model) • We are guests and they are hosts. • We are NOT in search of “The Truth”, we are in search of truth from their perspectives. • We are not parasites. We freely give and freely (and gratefully) receive (Luke 10)

  13. Step #6. Compile and Analyze Data. • Folk Language: Find what they mean by certain words or phrases. • Timeline. How is the day spent. • Physical Map. Important places in their culture. • Socio-economic information. • Felt needs, felt fears. • Artifacts and beliefs • Taxonomies

  14. Step #7 Follow-up It may be necessary to revisit informants or gather additional information/ clarification. The previous interviews may open new areas of research.

  15. Step #8. Write Ethnography • Introduction: Target group, problem • Literary Research (optional): Describe research or opinions of experts in this area (including controversies or areas unresearched). • Methodology (may include some verbatim reporting) • Analysis • Summary (may include future possibilities for reseach, or potential applications)

  16. Remember • Write in 1st person or 3rd person, but always focus on the reader (who is a complete outsider to this culture). • Respect confidentiality and show respect for informants and culture. (Imagine that a member of this culture got hold of your paper.)

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