Comparative Ethnography- Introduction of concepts
Page 1: Introduction to Ethnography
Definition
Ethnography: Derived from Greek "ethnos" (people) and "graphein" (writing).
Described by Wolcott (1999) as the customary social behaviors of a specific group.
Characteristics
Also known as "culture writing," used by anthropologists for field documentation.
Aims for holism: understanding culture by exploring various aspects of cultural contexts.
Ethnographers and Research Methods
Cultural anthropologists are often called ethnographers who utilize participant-observation (involvement in a group's activities).
Ethnographic information can appear in various formats: articles, journals, statistical data, documentaries, and monographs.
Ethnology: Comparative study utilizing ethnographic data to explore cross-cultural topics.
Historical Context
The term ethnology introduced by Adam Franz Kollar in 1783.
Methodology
Ethnography involves immersive qualitative research to generate rich cultural insights.
Page 2: Ethnographic Research
Historical Research Context
Traditionally, ethnography involved long-term research within isolated tribal communities (e.g., Colin M. Turnbull with the Mbuti people).
Modern Applications
Widely used across social sciences to study both unfamiliar and familiar communities (e.g., gangs, fans, call center workers).
Advantages of Ethnography
Direct access to cultural practices, providing authentic data.
Flexible methodology capturing diverse aspects of the social setting without predefined hypotheses.
Disadvantages of Ethnography
Time-consuming, often requiring months of immersion.
Potential researcher bias and ethical considerations concerning participant disclosure.
Page 3: Approaches to Ethnographic Research
Setting Types
Open Settings: Easy access (e.g., community neighborhoods), immersion may be harder due to less defined boundaries.
Closed Settings: Harder to access (e.g., schools, businesses); immersion is easier once access is granted.
Research Transparency
Overt Ethnography: Researcher discloses intentions, ensuring informed consent. Participants may behave differently when aware of observation.
Covert Ethnography: Researcher hides their role, raising ethical concerns but allowing access to unsanctioned environments.
Levels of Participation
Active Observation: Full integration into the community, potentially fostering comfort but risking disruption.
Passive Observation: Less intrusive, allowing for careful note-taking but may lead to unnatural behaviors from subjects.
Page 4: Field Observations
Role of Informants
Informants facilitate access and understanding; relying too much on one can skew perspective. Diverse contacts provide richer insights.
Observation Techniques
Core of ethnography involves thorough observation, recording field notes during immersion.
Field notes document a wide range of data: behaviors, conversations, interactions, and preliminary analyses.
Example notes on service staff interactions detail varied engagement levels and customer reactions.
Emphasizes the importance of thorough, organized field notes.
Page 5: Writing Ethnography
Transitioning to Writing
Post-observation, ethnographers organize and write observations into coherent narratives.
Content Structure
Ethnographies can take various forms (articles, theses, books) and may diverge from standard scientific structures.
Goals and Approaches
Aim to provide an authoritative, insightful depiction of the social setting, incorporating personal experience and theory.
Ethnography blends observation with deeper narrative explanations.