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Questions and Answers
What is the purpose of the poster boards in the activity described?
How does Carol communicate with the children to get them quiet?
What is the significance of the observer's comments?
What aspect of time stamps is highlighted in the content?
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What does Carol suggest by telling the children, 'the people at your table are the people in your group'?
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What is implied as a potential drawback in the observer's comments?
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What is the general structure of the mural activity described?
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What role does audio and video recording potentially play in participant observation?
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What is the purpose of documenting the day, date, and specific location in field notes?
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Which statement best describes the nature of jottings in ethnographic research?
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Why might some researchers consider the physical site as an active participant in ethnographic research?
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What key feature should be included in a groundplan of the field site?
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What is a critical aspect of the field notes regarding participant demographics?
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What role do captions play in field notes?
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What is the advised approach for recording observations during the first-time visits to a setting?
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What is the primary aim of ethnography?
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In the context of field notes, what should be prioritized regarding the spatial relationships documented in groundplans?
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Which membership role involves the researcher not participating directly in the observed activities?
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What type of ethnography focuses on the researcher’s personal experiences and reflections?
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Which methodological focus primarily aims at understanding phenomena through real-world observation?
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What is a potential problem with covert membership roles in ethnography?
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What does an ethnographer primarily rely on for collecting data?
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Which of the following is NOT a common limitation of ethnography?
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What distinguishes emic perspectives in ethnography from etic perspectives?
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What is the minimum duration of daily fieldwork required for adequate experience?
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Which type of interview is characterized by open-ended and narrative responses?
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What is one of the suggested methods for analyzing qualitative data according to Roper & Shapira?
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Which of the following is NOT a consideration when conducting fieldwork observation?
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What is the purpose of identifying patterns in qualitative data analysis?
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Study Notes
What is Ethnography?
- Ethnography is a research method used to understand cultures and social situations.
- Originally rooted in Anthropology, it involves immersing oneself in the culture to observe and understand the observed group.
- Can be used in many different settings, with a wide range of subjects.
- Emphasizes the insider perspective of the observed group ("emic") rather than an outside observer's view ("etic").
- Numerous variations exist, including critical ethnography, feminist ethnography, autoethnography, virtual ethnography, organizational ethnography.
Practical Considerations
- Involves gaining access to the group being studied, becoming a part of their world, gathering information, analyzing data, and ultimately leaving the field.
- Navigates numerous ethical considerations.
- Emphasizes naturalism, understanding, and inductive reasoning.
- Often involves a mix of "spy," "voyeur," "fan," and "member" roles.
Why Ethnography?
- Provides a deeper understanding of social situations and cultures.
- Offers rich, detailed data from firsthand perspectives.
- Provides a nuanced, holistic picture of the observed group's behavior.
Limitations of Ethnography
- Time consuming and resource-intensive.
- Potential for "going native" and losing objectivity.
- Challenges with generalizability of findings.
- Difficult to replicate studies due to the unique context of each study.
Data Collection Methods
- Focuses on the "5 Rs": Roles, Relations, Rituals, Resources, and Rules.
- Utilizes participant observation, ethnographic interviews, visual ethnography, and document analysis.
Participant Observation
- Researchers take on different membership roles:
- Peripheral: Observing without actively participating.
- Active: Engaging in some activities, but not fully immersed.
- Complete: Living the same experiences as the observed group.
- Covert: Participating without revealing their research identity.
Field Notes
- Essential for recording observations, reflections, and analysis.
- Often include:
- Front Matter: Date, time, location, demographics of participants.
- Settings Description: Detailed description of the observed environment.
- Groundplans: Hand-drawn diagrams of the observed area, including furniture arrangement and spatial relations.
- Jottings: Brief, hasty notes of key actions, quotes, and observations.
- Write-ups: Expanded versions of jottings, including narrative descriptions of events.
- Observer’s comments: Personal reflections and subjective interpretations of events.
- Time Stamps: Recording start, end, and duration of specific events.
- Audio and Video Recordings: Capturing events and interviews.
Time Commitment
- Minimum of 20-40 hours of observation recommended for a good understanding of the observed environment.
- Optimal duration for full immersion is typically at least 12-18 months.
Ethnographic Interviews
- Open-ended, narrative, and life history interviews are common.
- Provides in-depth information and personal perspectives from participants.
Document Analysis
- Examines written materials such as letters, reports, memos, and other relevant documents.
- Offers insight into the group's practices, communication, and beliefs.
Data Analysis
- Requires rigorous analysis of field notes and interview transcripts.
- Involves:
- Coding: Identifying and categorizing key themes, concepts, and events.
- Pattern Identification: Discovering recurring themes, connections, and relationships.
- Outlier Analysis: Investigating exceptions and deviations from observed patterns.
- Linking Findings to Theory: Connecting findings to existing literature and theoretical frameworks.
- Memoing: Writing down ideas, reflections, and interpretations of the data.
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