Chapter 19
Ethnography & participant observation
Introduction
Ethnography:
Often preferred over participant observation because participant observation seems to
imply just observation although in practice they do a lot more
Sometimes taken to refer to a study in which participant observation is the prevalent
research method but also has a specific focus on the culture of the group in which the
ethnographer is immersed
It can be something that is carried out in doing
research and/or something that one reads
Two kinds of meanings
o A method of research
o The written product of that research
Ethnography as a research method in which the researcher:
Is immersed in a social setting for an extended period of time
Makes regular observations of the behavior of members of that setting
Listens o & engages in conversations
Interviews informants on issues that are not directly amendable to observation or that
the ethnographer is unclear about
Collects documents about the group
Develops an understanding about the culture of the group & people’s behavior within
the context of that culture
Writes up a detailed account of that setting
Micro-ethnography:
Involves focusing on a specific aspect/topic
1
Ethnography & participant observation
Introduction
Ethnography:
Often preferred over participant observation because participant observation seems to
imply just observation although in practice they do a lot more
Sometimes taken to refer to a study in which participant observation is the prevalent
research method but also has a specific focus on the culture of the group in which the
ethnographer is immersed
It can be something that is carried out in doing
research and/or something that one reads
Two kinds of meanings
o A method of research
o The written product of that research
Ethnography as a research method in which the researcher:
Is immersed in a social setting for an extended period of time
Makes regular observations of the behavior of members of that setting
Listens o & engages in conversations
Interviews informants on issues that are not directly amendable to observation or that
the ethnographer is unclear about
Collects documents about the group
Develops an understanding about the culture of the group & people’s behavior within
the context of that culture
Writes up a detailed account of that setting
Micro-ethnography:
Involves focusing on a specific aspect/topic
1
