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Introduction to Educational Research (4th ed.) C. M. Charles/Craig A. Mertler. Chapter 10 Ethnographic Research. The Nature of Ethnographic Research. Research process used in the study of human interactions in social settings A highly descriptive, holistic approach to research
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Introduction to Educational Research (4th ed.)C. M. Charles/Craig A. Mertler Chapter 10 Ethnographic Research
The Nature of Ethnographic Research • Research process used in the study of human interactions in social settings • A highly descriptive, holistic approach to research • Topics must involve people in groups • May last from a week to several years • Excellent at constructing a VERY detailed picture of human life and interactions
A Summary Description of Ethnographic Research • Purpose—to describe/explain segment of group social life as it pertains to education • Hypotheses/questions—begin as broad statements; emerge more specifically as data are collected • Data—qualitative; verbal descriptions of people, interactions, settings, etc. within the specific context • Data sources—people, settings, etc.
A Summary Description of Ethnographic Research (cont’d.) • Data collection—done by researcher, through observations and interviews (naturalistic observation) • Data analysis—presentation of verbal descriptions through logical analysis in an attempt to discover themes/ patterns that exist in a particular context
Strengths and Weaknesses of Ethnographic Research • Strengths: • Its holistic nature (as opposed to a “snapshot study”) • Weaknesses: • A single observer calls into question the reliability of the data (and therefore, the validity of the results) • Must determine if biases exist…if observations are accurate
Published Examples of Ethnographic Research Pajak, E. F. & Blase, J. J. (1984). Teacher in bars: From professional to personal self. Sociology of Education, 57, 164–173. Williams, J. & Williamson, K. (1992). I wouldn’t want to shoot nobody: The out-of-school curriculum as described by urban students. Action in Teacher Education, 14(2), 9–15.
Applying Technology… Web sites covering topics related to qualitative research • An Introduction to Qualitative Research (http://www.uea.ac.uk/care/elu/Issues/Research/Res1Cont.html) • Dr. Trochim’s discussion of "Qualitative Measures" (http://trochim.human.cornell.edu/kb/qual.htm) • Dr. Trochim’s discussion of "Qualitative Approaches" (http://trochim.human.cornell.edu/kb/qualapp.htm) • Dr. Trochim’s discussion of "Qualitative Methods" (http://trochim.human.cornell.edu/kb/qualmeth.htm) • Dr. Trochim’s discussion of "Qualitative Validity" (http://trochim.human.cornell.edu/kb/qualval.htm) • Qualitative Research (http://llanes.panam.edu/research/advisor/Qualresearch.html) • Qualitative Research Resources on the Internet (http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/qualres.html)
Applying Technology… More web sites covering topics related to qualitative research • QSR (Qualitative Solutions and Research) Home Page (http://qsr.latrobe.edu.au) • Free, downloadable demo version of NUD*IST qualitative data analysis software (http://qsr.latrobe.edu.au/software/download.htm) • Research Proposal Evaluation Form for Qualitative Methodology (http://www.gslis.utexas.edu/~marylynn/qreval.html)