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ETHNOGRAPHY: WHERE AND HOW
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Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

Mar 31, 2015

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Titus Tates
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Page 1: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

ETHNOGRAPHY: WHERE AND

HOW

Page 2: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

UNITS OF ANALYSIS Units of analysis are who you are

studyingCommunitiesFamiliesOrganizationsOccupational groupsCommunities of interest

Page 3: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

SELECTION CRITERIA

LogisticalLocationTimingSeasonal issuesSize of group Issues (special permission, supplies, home,

clothes, transportation etc.)

First ContactWindshield Reconnaissance Gate KeepersKey Informants

Page 4: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

OBSERVATION Not as natural as it seems! Intense, not overlooking the usual It’s not data unless recorded in a usable

way To record or not record? Discuss confidentiality use pseudonyms

if necessary

Page 5: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

NOTE TAKING Try to write as many direct quotes as

possible so you can capture the language and emotions being used

Make sure your notes follow the conversation as spoken

Make sure you use a cover sheet and date and time each interview

Devise a system to categorize interviews for quick reference

Record your own thoughts on the interview

Page 6: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

UNOBTRUSIVE OBSERVATIONS Made with minimum research

participation Key Cultural Ideas to watch

Proxemics – how people use physical spaceKinesics – how people convey meaning

through body language

Page 7: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

UNOBTRUSIVE OBSERVATIONS Structured Observation

Using a fixed setting to see how people interact in it for comparability

Using an inventory for comparison across places or groups

Usually unobtrusive research is structured

Page 8: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION More typical of ethnography Generally only works if people in the

study group have become familiar with the researcher

Generally note-taking occurs in the evening or next day out of sight of the study group

Participant observation is unstructured observation

Page 9: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERVIEWING Research Observation is not natural or

intuitive There are specific types of interviews for

subjects dependent on the sort of information needed for the research

Types of interviews Exploratory In-depth Key Informant Open-ended Semi-Structured Life History Oral History

Page 10: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

EXPLORATORY INTERVIEW Most typical of all ethnographic Methods Usually In-Depth to give great detail and

enhance the researchers understanding Usually Open-Ended so the respondent

explains things from their viewpoint and the context of things. There are no forced choice questionsEffectively builds rapport in a

conversational setting Identifies differing views of eventsSometimes collaborators can become

emotional

Page 11: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

EXPLORATORY INTERVIEW Conversational style is preferred—it is

okay to probe or ask challenging questions

Start the interview with a culturally appropriate conversation starterGenerally an inquiry of family, friends, even

petsBe in a comfortable settingPrivacy may be a concern (balance with

personal safety)Gender issues could be importantWatch for cues of discomfort, length,

annoyanceGET THE RIGHT PERSON—KEY INFORMANT

Page 12: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

TO TAPE OR NOT TO TAPE It’s become standard practice to

digitally record interviews In many cases interviews are

transcribed and analyzed with content analysis software

Obviously this is very intensive commitment of time and work

Other times interviews of videotaped, but usually reserved for public figures and important key informants who are very public—no confidentiality

Page 13: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

TO TAPE OR NOT TO TAPE Other anthropologists feel that taping

inhibits the interview Sensitive topics are influenced by the

recording—some may not wish to go on record

If not taped note-taking is critical—especially if content analysis is going to be preformed

There are many cases where there are very good reasons not to record

Page 14: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

SUMMARIZING YOUR DATA Numerical content analysis Cultural model Key concepts Strictly descriptive

Page 15: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

SEMI-STRUCTURED OR FOCUSED INTERVIEWS Predetermined questions on a specific

topic Often developed after a number of

exploratory interviews Sometimes just administered to key

informants or a more representative sample to assess how widely the ideas are held

1. How long have you fished in this area?2. Did your parents and grandparents fish also?3. Is fishing the biggest source of income for your family?4. Currently, whom do you sell your catch to?5. In your opinion, how much has fishing in this area changed?6. How has the fishery changed?7. What do you think has caused changes in fishing as a way of life?8. What do you think has caused changes in the fishery?9. Would you say that you live in a fishing community?10. How would you say you’re doing?11. How have you adapted to fishing changes in the past?12. Do you belong to any fishing or other support group?13. What appeals to you about fishing?14. What might make you want to leave the fishery?15. What do you say is the biggest problem for you as a fisherman?What is the biggest problem for your community?

Page 16: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

TIPS FOR SEMI-STRUCTURED QUESTIONS Use plain language Avoid double barrels Avoid leading questions Ask questions in a chronological

sequence Start simple and moved to questions Ask all questions on a single topic

before moving to the next issue Work from the concrete to abstract Ask the most sensitive questions near

the end of the interview

Page 17: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

USING ARCHIVED MATERIALS Archived materials are records stored

from research, services, government, and other agencies

Some examples include:MapsRecords of births, deaths, real-estate

transactions, marriages, etc.CensusChurch Court recordsOld newspapersPhotos, letters, museums

Page 18: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

USING ARCHIVED MATERIALS Archived materials produce non-reactive

research—therefore are unobtrusive Secondary data is information collected

by someone else for another purpose other than your work

Archived materials and secondary research are missing the contextual analysis of the collaborators

Page 19: Units of analysis are who you are studying Communities Families Organizations Occupational groups Communities of interest.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER External Validity and Internal Validity Triangulation

Observation Unobtrusive Participant Observation

Interviews Exploratory unstructured Semi-structured

Archived materials News/history information/records Secondary data