Week 10 - Interviewing and Ethnography

Interviews

A method of data collection that involves two or more people exchanging information through a series of questions and answers.

The Goal of Analysis

To reach some inferences, lessons or conclusions by condensing large amounts of data into relatively smaller, more manageable bits of information.

Codes

Shorthand representations of some more complex set of issues or ideas. Involves identifying themes across interview data by reading and rereading interview transcripts.

Open Coding

Reading each transcript, line by line, and making note of whatever categories or themes seem relevant. Often the beginning of the coding process.

Focused Coding

Involves collapsing or narrowing themes and categories identified in open coding by reading through notes made while open coding, and identifying themes that seem to be related. Often become the basis of a final write-up.

Strengths of Interviewing

• Detailed, in-depth data

• Useful in showing social process

• Accounts for affect and body language of respondent.

Weaknesses

• Relies on the interviewees ability to accurately and honestly recall details.

• Labor intensive

• Emotionally taxing

Ethnography

• Also called field research, or participant observation

• Qualitative method of data collection aimed at understanding, observing and interacting with people in their natural settings.

Field Notes

A form of ethnographic data, where researchers write down what they observe.

Descriptive Field Notes

Ethnographic data that simply describe a researcher’s observations as straightforwardly as possible.

Analytic Field Notes

Notes that include the researcher’s impressions about his observations.

Contreras Study Purpose

How could men he grew up alongside turn to drug robberies and torture? Examines the social and historical forces that shape motivation to commit violence or crime.

Contreras Methods

Engages ethnographic methods and interviewing to find sociological explanations.

Positionality

Refers to a researcher’s social location in terms of race, gender, class, sexuality, nationality, education, etc. Important marker in qualitative research because of potential to introduce bias.

Researcher Positions

Gauged on a spectrum from insider to outsider, and covert to overt.

Reflexivity

Acknowledging how social location affects one’s vision of the world, in order to interrogate taken-for-granted assumptions.

Strengths of Ethnography

• Provides detailed data

• Emphasizes social context

• Uncovers social facts that may not be immediately obvious to research participants.

Weaknesses of Ethnography

• May lack breadth

• May be emotionally taxing

• Take a lot of time and resources

• Documenting observations can be challenging.