1 / 19

Ethnography: where and how

Ethnography: where and how. Units OF analysis . Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest. Selection criteria . Logistical Location Timing Seasonal issues Size of group

vivek
Download Presentation

Ethnography: where and how

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: where and how

  2. Units OF analysis • Units of analysis are who you are studying • Communities • Families • Organizations • Occupational groups • Communities of interest

  3. Selection criteria • Logistical • Location • Timing • Seasonal issues • Size of group • Issues (special permission, supplies, home, clothes, transportation etc.) • First Contact • Windshield Reconnaissance • Gate Keepers • Key Informants

  4. Observation • Not as natural as it seems! • Intense, not overlooking the usual • It’s not data unless recorded in a usable way • To record or not record? • Discuss confidentiality use pseudonyms if necessary

  5. Note Taking • Try to write as many direct quotes as possible so you can capture the language and emotions being used • Make sure your notes follow the conversation as spoken • Make sure you use a cover sheet and date and time each interview • Devise a system to categorize interviews for quick reference • Record your own thoughts on the interview

  6. Unobtrusive Observations • Made with minimum research participation • Key Cultural Ideas to watch • Proxemics – how people use physical space • Kinesics – how people convey meaning through body language

  7. Unobtrusive Observations • Structured Observation • Using a fixed setting to see how people interact in it for comparability • Using an inventory for comparison across places or groups • Usually unobtrusive research is structured

  8. Participant Observation • More typical of ethnography • Generally only works if people in the study group have become familiar with the researcher • Generally note-taking occurs in the evening or next day out of sight of the study group • Participant observation is unstructured observation

  9. Ethnographic Interviewing • Research Observation is not natural or intuitive • There are specific types of interviews for subjects dependent on the sort of information needed for the research • Types of interviews • Exploratory • In-depth • Key Informant • Open-ended • Semi-Structured • Life History • Oral History

  10. Exploratory Interview • Most typical of all ethnographic Methods • Usually In-Depth to give great detail and enhance the researchers understanding • Usually Open-Ended so the respondent explains things from their viewpoint and the context of things. • There are no forced choice questions • Effectively builds rapport in a conversational setting • Identifies differing views of events • Sometimes collaborators can become emotional

  11. Exploratory Interview • Conversational style is preferred—it is okay to probe or ask challenging questions • Start the interview with a culturally appropriate conversation starter • Generally an inquiry of family, friends, even pets • Be in a comfortable setting • Privacy may be a concern (balance with personal safety) • Gender issues could be important • Watch for cues of discomfort, length, annoyance • GET THE RIGHT PERSON—KEY INFORMANT

  12. To Tape or not to tape • It’s become standard practice to digitally record interviews • In many cases interviews are transcribed and analyzed with content analysis software • Obviously this is very intensive commitment of time and work • Other times interviews of videotaped, but usually reserved for public figures and important key informants who are very public—no confidentiality

  13. To Tape or not to tape • Other anthropologists feel that taping inhibits the interview • Sensitive topics are influenced by the recording—some may not wish to go on record • If not taped note-taking is critical—especially if content analysis is going to be preformed • There are many cases where there are very good reasons not to record

  14. Summarizing your data • Numerical content analysis • Cultural model • Key concepts • Strictly descriptive

  15. Semi-structured or focused interviews • Predetermined questions on a specific topic • Often developed after a number of exploratory interviews • Sometimes just administered to key informants or a more representative sample to assess how widely the ideas are held 1. How long have you fished in this area? 2. Did your parents and grandparents fish also? 3. Is fishing the biggest source of income for your family? 4. Currently, whom do you sell your catch to? 5. In your opinion, how much has fishing in this area changed? 6. How has the fishery changed? 7. What do you think has caused changes in fishing as a way of life? 8. What do you think has caused changes in the fishery? 9. Would you say that you live in a fishing community? 10. How would you say you’re doing? 11. How have you adapted to fishing changes in the past? 12. Do you belong to any fishing or other support group? 13. What appeals to you about fishing? 14. What might make you want to leave the fishery? 15. What do you say is the biggest problem for you as a fisherman? What is the biggest problem for your community?

  16. Tips for semi-structured questions • Use plain language • Avoid double barrels • Avoid leading questions • Ask questions in a chronological sequence • Start simple and moved to questions • Ask all questions on a single topic before moving to the next issue • Work from the concrete to abstract • Ask the most sensitive questions near the end of the interview

  17. Using archived materials • Archived materials are records stored from research, services, government, and other agencies Some examples include: • Maps • Records of births, deaths, real-estate transactions, marriages, etc. • Census • Church • Court records • Old newspapers • Photos, letters, museums

  18. Using archived materials • Archived materials produce non-reactive research—therefore are unobtrusive • Secondary data is information collected by someone else for another purpose other than your work • Archived materials and secondary research are missing the contextual analysis of the collaborators

  19. Putting it all together • External Validity and Internal Validity • Triangulation • Observation • Unobtrusive • Participant Observation • Interviews • Exploratory unstructured • Semi-structured • Archived materials • News/history information/records • Secondary data

More Related