1 / 7

Ethnography

Ethnography. Introduction. What is Ethnography?. Participant observation and writing Detailed description of events as well as finding an insight into their meaning (description + analysis) A method of discovery (not an approach to test an hypothesis)

hedya
Download Presentation

Ethnography

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Ethnography Introduction

  2. What is Ethnography? • Participant observation and writing • Detailed description of events as well as finding an insight into their meaning (description + analysis) • A method of discovery (not an approach to test an hypothesis) • A comparative method (filling the gap between reality and perceived reality) • Naturalistic setting, empathy • Understanding the symbolic world of the culture studied

  3. Participant Observation • Entry: Developing presence and relationship in the designated research setting that makes it possible for the researcher to collect data • Building rapport: develop good relationships with people in the subculture to get access to the field and to information • Data collection requires the presence of the researcher in the field recording routines within the culture • Identify the rules and meanings that govern relationships and actions in the setting • It is not just observing, but often asking questions. • Limitations: Hawthorn Effect

  4. Ethnographic Writing • Seminal ideas about ethnographic writing suggest that it should somewhat be objective • The data collection techniques are rigorous but the writing itself can be biased due to the nature of the language itself, the twists added by the ethnographer worldview, etc. • New approaches to ethnography do not give priority to the objective truth over emotions and opinions.

  5. Culture and Subculture • Typical assumed boundaries for culture include nationality,ethnicity, language, and geography • Subcultures are smaller units within the larger culture with different cultural norms from the mainstream culture • Norms can range from behavior, rituals, location, insider language, clothing, etc.

  6. Examples • Classic Examples of Ethnographic work • James Patrick: A Glasgow Gang Observed • Laud Humphreys: Tearoom Trade • Irvin Goffman: Asylums • Examples of subculture • Dominican/Indian, Mexican Restaurant • IEI students at Ball State University • English Professors at Ball State University • Student Organizations on Campus • Online chat room (subscribers to ‘lefaso net’)

  7. Importance of Ethnography • Program development and evaluation • New product development • Broadens our horizons, awakens our capacity to care about people different from us, helps us know how we converse with them (Bochner & Caroline 26).

More Related