
Let’s recap these:
- Ethnography can make it easier for researchers to understand a culture and the way people see themselves. ...
- Ethnographic research also allows researchers to document a society or group of people. ...
- It provides a different way to collect data about social structures and the way people interact with one another.
How do I write an ethnography?
The Ethnography Paper Outline Sample
- Introduction:
- An engaging sentence (it can be a quote or some interesting fact);
- Ethnography as a science;
- The main idea of your research.
- The Main Body:
- Tell about the characteristics of the chosen ethnic group;
- Compare the past and the present way of life;
- Analyze the social and cultural differences with other peoples;
- Your observation with evidence.
What are the key components of Ethnography?
Key Characteristics. 1. 2. The research demands close, face to face interaction within the researcher and the participants. 3. 4. Ethnography consists of inductive, interactive and repeated collection of unstructured data and analysis to build local cultural theories. 5. 6.
What is ethnography and how does it work?
Ethnography is defined as both a social science research method and its final written product. As a method, ethnographic observation involves embedding oneself deeply and over the long-term in a field site of study in order to systemically document the everyday lives, behaviors, and interactions of a community of people.
What are some risks of Ethnography?
- The design is artificial, and results may not generalize well to the real world.
- The artificial settings of experiments may alter the behaviors or responses of participants.
- Experimental designs can be costly if special equipment or facilities are needed.

What is ethnography in research?
Ethnography is a type of qualitative research that involves immersing yourself in a particular community or organization to observe their behavior and interactions up close. The word “ethnography” also refers to the written report of the research that the ethnographer produces afterwards. Ethnography is a flexible research method ...
What is an important consideration for ethnographers?
An important consideration for ethnographers is the question of access. The difficulty of gaining access to the setting of a particular ethnography varies greatly: To gain access to the fans of a particular sports team, you might start by simply attending the team’s games and speaking with the fans.
What is overt ethnography?
Most ethnography is overt. In an overt approach, the ethnographer openly states their intentions and acknowledges their role as a researcher to the members of the group being studied . Overt ethnography is typically preferred for ethical reasons, as participants can provide informed consent….
What are the key distinctions in ethnography?
There are a few key distinctions in ethnography which help to inform the researcher’s approach: open vs. closed settings, overt vs. covert ethnography, and active vs. passive observation. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages.
How long does ethnography take?
In order to embed yourself in the setting and gather enough observations to build up a representative picture, you can expect to spend at least a few weeks, but more likely several months . This long-term immersion can be challenging, and requires careful planning.
What is the use of informants in ethnography?
All ethnographies involve the use of informants. These are people involved in the group in question who function as the researcher’s primary points of contact, facilitating access and assisting their understanding of the group.
What is ethnographic research? What are some examples?
For example, ethnographic research (sometimes called participant observation ) has been used to investigate gangs, football fans, call center workers, and police officers.
What is ethnography in research?
The term "ethnography" is often used to describe a range of qualitative research approaches employed in diverse qualitative research traditions. However, due to its historic development within the discipline of anthropology, ethnography may be more clearly delineated from other qualitative approaches (Trainor and Graue, 2013, p.82).
What are the elements of ethnography?
According to Kendall and Thangara (as cited in Trainor and Graue, 2013, p.83) the key elements of ethnography are: ethnographic "fieldwork". Even though time in the work field does not necessarily guarantee quality in ethnographic research, ethnographers are required to spend prolonged periods in the field. Fieldwork may be conducted ...
What are the two most popular forms of ethnography?
However, the two most popular forms of ethnography are the realist ethnography and the critical ethnography (Creswell, 2007).
Do ethnographers use themselves as research instruments?
In most cases participants are aware of the ethnographer's presence; instead of being detached observers ethnographers use themselves as research instruments being always part of the field of study , while at the same time they record their experiences typically in the form of "fieldnotes" (Trainor and Graue, 2013, p. 87).
What Is Ethnographic Research?
When we wish to understand a particular social phenomenon, ethnographic research can be a useful tool.
Ethnographic Research Methods
As we’ve discovered, ethnographic research is a method often used to study another culture or group of people. It’s a powerful tool to understand the world better. It can be done through observation, active participation and even interviews with the people being studied.
When To Use Ethnographic Research Methods
Some consider ethnographic research more art than science. Cultures and cultural phenomena aren’t easy to quantify, so they can be open to interpretation. That’s when the meaning of ethnographic research really comes into its own.
Examples Of Ethnographic Research
Ethnographic research can be used to study issues big and small, cultural or business-related. Here are a few examples of its uses:
Challenges Of Ethnographic Research
As with other research methods, there are challenges to ethnographic research. It’s important to consider these before choosing the right research method. Here are some points to keep in mind:
Advantages Of Ethnographic Research
Just as there are drawbacks, there are clear advantages to using ethnographic research. Let’s recap these:
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What is qualitative ethnography?
Qualitative Methodology. Ethnography is a qualitative research method that comes from the discipline of anthropology but is applicable to other disciplines. Ethnography is the in-depth study of a culture or a facet of a culture.
What is the scientific method used in dissertations?
The scientific method—i.e., the method used in dissertations—is based, in part, on the ability of others to replicate your study. Specifically, in order to faithfully replicate your study, other researchers must know the Who, What, Where, When, and How of your study.

What Is Ethnography Used for?
Different Approaches to Ethnographic Research
Gaining Access to A Community
Working with Informants
Observing The Group and Taking Field Notes
- The core of ethnography is observation of the group from the inside. Field notesare taken to record these observations while immersed in the setting; they form the basis of the final written ethnography. They are usually written by hand, but other solutions such as voice recordings can be useful alternatives. Field notes record any and all importan...
Writing Up An Ethnography