Ethnography methods include direct observation, diary studies, video recordings, photography and artefact analysis such as devices that a person uses throughout the day. Observations can be made anywhere from the user’s workplace, their home or while they are out with family and friends.
How is ethnography used?
It is used not only to study distant or unfamiliar cultures, but also to study specific communities within the researcher’s own society . For example, ethnographic research (sometimes called participant observation) has been used to investigate gangs, football fans, call center workers, and police officers.
What does ethnography focus on understanding?
Focused ethnography is about understanding people . Understanding people requires relationships; building relationships takes time. Starting early, before the official beginning of data collection, and getting to know a community or population group in context is helpful in a number of ways.
What methods of analysis can be used for a study of ethnography?
- Participant observation. Participant observation is the key methodological approach involved in ethnography. ...
- In-depth interviews. In-depth interviews are also referred to as focused, unstructured or ethnographic interviews. ...
- Life histories. ...
- Documentary data.
What are some ethnographic methods?
Ethnographic methods are qualitative, inductive, exploratory and longitudinal . They achieve a thick, rich description over a relatively small area.
What is the goal of ethnography?
Ethnography is a study through direct observation of users in their natural environment rather than in a lab. The objective of this type of research is to gain insights into how users interact with things in their natural environment .
What is the weakness of ethnography?
Ethnographic research has several disadvantages to consider as well. Ethnography is time consuming and requires a well-trained researcher. It takes time to build trust with informants in order to facilitate full and honest discourse . Short-term studies are at a particular disadvantage in this regard.
What is ethnography example?
Generally, an ethnographic study involves a researcher observing behaviour either in person or via cameras pre-installed in participant homes , work places, etc. Think of the show Gogglebox where viewers observe the reaction to other people watching TV – that’s ethnography.
What is ethnography in simple terms?
ethnography, descriptive study of a particular human society or the process of making such a study . Contemporary ethnography is based almost entirely on fieldwork and requires the complete immersion of the anthropologist in the culture and everyday life of the people who are the subject of his study.
How do you start an ethnography?
- A thesis. The thesis establishes the central theme and message of your research study. ...
- Literature Review. A literature review is an analysis of previous research now on your research topic. ...
- Data Collection. ...
- Data Analysis. ...
- Reflexivity.
What is the study of ethnography?
Ethnography, simply stated, is the study of people in their own environment through the use of methods such as participant observation and face-to-face interviewing . ... Classic ethnographic research involves a detailed description of the whole of a culture outside of the country of origin of the researcher.
What are two main types of data that can be used in Visual ethnography?
Visual ethnography uses photography, motion pictures, hypermedia, the web, interactive CDs, CD—ROMs, and virtual reality as ways of capturing and expressing perceptions and social realities of people.
What type of data gathering instrument is best used for ethnographic studies?
One of the most frequently used tools, in addition to participant observation, is interviewing. For ethnography and other types of field research, interviews occur within the context of the ongoing observations and collection of artifacts.
What are the strengths of ethnography?
Advantages of ethnography
One of the main advantages associated with ethnographic research is that ethnography can help identify and analyse unexpected issues . When conducting other types of studies, which are not based on in-situ observation or interaction, it can very easy to miss unexpected issues.
What is the weakness of Grounded Theory?
Cons (disadvantages)
Grounded theory methods tend to produce large amounts of data , often difficult to manage. Researchers need to be skillful in using grounded theory methods. There are no standard rules to follow for the identification of categories.
What are weaknesses of case studies?
- Lacking scientific rigour and providing little basis for generalization of results to the wider population.
- Researchers’ own subjective feeling may influence the case study (researcher bias).
- Difficult to replicate.
- Time-consuming and expensive.
