Week 9: Ethnographic Research PDF

**Week 9: Ethnographic Research** Chapter 10: Ethnography and participant observation - Chapter 10 delves into ethnography and participant observation as key **qualitative research methods** - These approaches emphasize immersive engagement with a group or setting over time - Enabl...

**Week 9: Ethnographic Research** Chapter 10: Ethnography and participant observation - Chapter 10 delves into ethnography and participant observation as key **qualitative research methods** - These approaches emphasize immersive engagement with a group or setting over time - Enabling researchers to explore cultural, social, and organizational dynamics - Ethnographers balance observation and interaction - Adapting their roles to fit the context and goals of their study - A **critical step** in **ethnographic work** is **[gaining access]** which can range from open public spaces to restricted, closed organizations - Strategies for access include building trust, securing sponsorship and negotiating terms - Though covert approaches may bypass these formalities - However, covert methods introduce ethical dilemmas such as deception and lack of consent - Posing risks to both participants and researchers - Ethnographers assume varied roles in the field - From **complete participants** who blend seamlessly into the group to complete observers who maintain detachment  - Intermediate roles, such as **participant-as-observer** and **observer-as-participant** balance interaction and observation differently - While **covert participant** may provide unfiltered insights, it complicates ethical obligations and data collection - Data collection relies on field notes, which record detailed observations, reflections, and initial interpretations - These are often supported by audio recordings, photographs, and analytic memos - Though each method demands careful ethical consideration, particularly around privacy and consent - Analytics memos are invaluable for connecting raw data to theoretical insights, shaping the research narrative - The chapter also talks about specialized approaches like **visual ethnography** which incorporates images as memory aids and data. - **Institutional ethnography** examines power dynamics in institutional structures - Sampling in ethnography is typically purposive or theoretical, focusing on rich data sources - While **snowball sampling** identifies informants through networks. **Lecture on this week:** - The lecture focuses on ethnography as a study of culture through immersive observation and extensive data collection. - It highlights the variety of fields suitable for ethnographic research, such as raves, workplaces, and protests, emphasizing the diverse contexts in which cultural phenomena occur. - Gaining access is a central theme, as researchers must navigate overt and covert approaches.  - **Overt access** involves direct permission, often facilitated by sponsors or gatekeepers, but may alter participants\' behavior due to awareness of observation.  - **Covert access,** on the other hand, allows for more natural interactions but raises ethical concerns and logistical challenges in data collection. - Time and activity in the field are also emphasized.  - While extended immersion is ideal, practical constraints like event schedules, funding, and participant limitations often shape the duration of fieldwork.  - Researchers engage in observation, participation, ethnographic interviews, and textual material collection, ensuring a multifaceted approach to understanding their subject. - Field notes are a cornerstone of the lecture, described as vital records of observation and participation.  - They range from mental and jotted notes to full, detailed field notes that serve as the primary data source.  - The lecture stresses good field note habits, such as journaling, allocating time for detailed entries, and maintaining reflexivity.  - Analytic memos bridge the gap between raw data and interpretation, encouraging researchers to refine their analytical framework. - The lecture concludes by noting that field notes not only capture the research process but also reflect the researcher's evolving understanding, underscoring their central role in ethnographic inquiry. **Connection between lecture and chapters:** - Both the chapter and lecture offer complementary perspectives on ethnography and participant observation, emphasizing the depth and challenges of the method. - The chapter provides a theoretical foundation, detailing roles, sampling strategies, and ethical considerations, while the lecture offers practical insights, focusing on field sites, data collection techniques, and the realities of access. - The concept of access is a shared focus, with both sources discussing overt and covert approaches and the associated ethical implications.  - Similarly, the importance of field notes is underscored in both, highlighting their role in capturing observations and shaping analysis.  - While the chapter introduces analytic memos and their theoretical significance, the lecture expands on practical habits for creating effective field notes. - Ethical concerns permeate both discussions, particularly in covert research.  - The chapter offers a more extensive theoretical framework for understanding these challenges, whereas the lecture contextualizes them with practical examples.  - Together, they provide a comprehensive view of ethnography, blending theoretical depth with applied guidance to prepare researchers for fieldwork.