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Ethnography is the art and science of describing a group or culture, revealing insights from an insider's perspective. This method involves observing, listening, and questioning in daily life to understand social and cultural dynamics. Originating as a colonial practice, ethnography prioritizes observation to capture authentic everyday realities. Participants can adopt different roles in the research process, such as complete observer or complete participant. Observation dimensions include space, actors, activities, time, goals, and sequences. Through stages like grand tours and selective observations, researchers record key details to build insights. Skills like empathetic neutrality and memory maintenance are vital to successful participant observation. By immersing in a culture, researchers can decipher its nuances and complexities effectively.
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Ethnography Shahaduz Zaman Ph.D.Newcastle University, UK
Ethno (People) Graphy (describing/writing) Writing about People
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)
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’
Ethnographic methodology gives priority to observation as it’s primary source of information. • In other words, it’s a knowledge gathering process through observation.
Any professional work is dependent upon the powers of observation • Why do we need to observe in ethnography?
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.
….But how to learn what to watch and listen for? • ….How to move the level of ordinary looking into rigor of systematic seeing?
…….People only see what they are prepared to see
Important for Ethnography • Gaining an access • Taking a role
………….In an ethnographic research the researcher is called ‘Participant Observer’. There are various level of observation
Complete observer • Complete participant • Observer as participant • Participant as observer
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
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.
Open Space • Shopping mall • Restaurant • Street • Local bazar • Close Space • Schools • Hospitals • Corporate office • Religious centre
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…..
I keep six honest serving men They taught me all I knew Their names are What & Why & When And How & Where & Who -R. Kipling
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
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
Observing self • Impression management • Becoming invisible • Professional Stranger
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)
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
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.
Skills of participant observant: • Building explicit awareness of little details of life • Building memory • Maintaining Naiveté • Building writing skills • ‘Empathic Neutrality’
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
New Styles of Ethnography • Videography • Auto ethnography • Netnography
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.
