Ethnography

1. Ethnography Shahaduz Zaman Ph.D.Newcastle University, UK

2. Ethno (People) Graphy (describing/writing) Writing about People

3. Defining ethnography • Ethnography is the art and science of describing a group or culture. ……..The ethnographer is interested in understanding and describing a social and cultural scene from the emic or insider’s perspective. The ethnographer is both story teller and scientist. (Fetternam:1998) • Ethnography is a method of research in which the researcher participates overtly or covertly, in people’s daily lives: • watching what happens • listening to what is being said • asking questions (Hamersley & Atkinson: 2006)

4. Ethnography is a methodology with more than 100 years of history. • It arose in the Western world as form of knowledge about distant cultures(typically non-Western culture). • This was historically a colonial method. • Changed over time: ‘Anthropology at home’

5. Malinowski in New Guinea (1916)

7. Ethnographic methodology gives priority to observation as it’s primary source of information. • In other words, it’s a knowledge gathering process through observation.

8. Any professional work is dependent upon the powers of observation • Why do we need to observe in ethnography?

9. Observational method provide data on what people do, as well as what they say they do. • It helps to get an inside view of everyday reality. • Gives chance to learn things that people are unwilling to talk in interviews.

10. ….But how to learn what to watch and listen for? • ….How to move the level of ordinary looking into rigor of systematic seeing?

11. Paris is the the capital of France

12. …….People only see what they are prepared to see

13. An Exercise

14. Important for Ethnography • Gaining an access • Taking a role

17. ………….In an ethnographic research the researcher is called ‘Participant Observer’. There are various level of observation

18. Complete observer • Complete participant • Observer as participant • Participant as observer

19. Complete Observer: • you will watch the situation without interacting with the day to day activity • Complete Participant: • you participate completely in all things the people do and will not be known in the community as a researcher

20. Participant as Observer: • you will be fully involved in the daily activities but will take time to record observation. • Observer as Participant: • you will primarily watch the situation but will also be involved in activities on a secondary basis.

22. Open Space • Shopping mall • Restaurant • Street • Local bazar • Close Space • Schools • Hospitals • Corporate office • Religious centre

23. After deciding about the • level of participation • duration • sites • moments and • focus of observation • ethnographer should enter the setting and start carefully watching and listening • Here is a clue to help you…..

24. I keep six honest serving men They taught me all I knew Their names are What & Why & When And How & Where & Who -R. Kipling

25. Observation dimensions: • WHERE • Space: Physical layout of the place • Object: The physical things that are present • WHO • Actor: Ranges of people involved • WHAT • Act: Single actions people undertake • Activity: A set of related acts that occur

26. WHEN • Time: Time of the day, duration • WHY • Goal : Things that people are trying to accomplish • HOW • Sequence: Order of activities and it’s interrelations

27. Observing self • Impression management • Becoming invisible • Professional Stranger

28. Unlike interviews, in which the researcher extracts data from the respondent, the ethnographer selects data from the naturally occurring flow of life. • “The idea that we collect data is a bit misleading. Data are not “out there” waiting for collection, like so many rubbish bags on the pavement. For a start they have to be noticed by the researcher, and treated as data for the purpose of his or her research.” Dey (1993)

29. Stages of observation • Grand tour observation • First wonder around the general location keeping the focus of your study. • Mini tour observation • Then observe ‘smaller’ issues (space, actor, activity, objects etc) • Selective observation • Finally observe the detail aspects of the setting according to your study

30. It is crucial to keep observation notes • Cryptic Jottings: • Record key words and key phrases while in the field. • Detailed descriptions: • Write full notes immediately after exiting the field • Analytical notes (Memo): • Describe your feelings, ideas, moments of confusion, and interpretations about what is observed.

31. Skills of participant observant: • Building explicit awareness of little details of life • Building memory • Maintaining Naiveté • Building writing skills • ‘Empathic Neutrality’

32. Enter into the world. Observe and wonder. Experience and reflect. To understand a world you must become a part of that world while at the same time remaining separate, a part of and apart from. Indian Sufi Saying

33. New Styles of Ethnography • Videography • Auto ethnography • Netnography

34. Reference • Atkinson P, Coffey A, DelamontS, Lofland J, Lofland L, eds. Handbook of ethnography. London:Sage, 2001. • Dey, Ian. 1993. Qualitative data analysis. London: Routledge. • Fetterman D. Ethnography: step by step. 2nd ed.London: Sage, 1988. • Hammersley M, AtkinsonP. Ethnography: principles in practice. 2nd ed. London: Routledge,1995.