Research Methods- Ethnography Flashcards
Define Ethnography.
- Writing about a way of life/culture of social groups.
- Ethnography aims to understand social phenomena from the ‘inside’, by observing and participating in social activities, by talking to people in their ‘natural’ settings and in collecting materials (photographs, texts, literature, statistics) that helps us to develop an understanding of the social context.
What does Ethnography involve the researcher putting them self into?
A natural setting to ‘tell it like it is’ (capture ordinary activities and peoples’ interpretations.)
What group prefer Ethnography? Why is this?
Interpretivists
- it allows researchers to access ‘lived experience’ of social groups
- it achieves verstehen.
- produces most valid qualitative data out of any research method
Define unstructured interviews.
Informal, and don’t follow a set schedule. Quite like a guided conversation.
What role do researchers play in unstructured interviews?
An active role and they manage questions to ensure participants keep to the research subject.
What may a skilful interviewer do?
Follow up ideas, probe responses, and investigate motives and feelings.
How are unstructured interviews ethnographic?
It is normally carried in a natural setting, and takes place over a period of hours.
Name 3 strengths of unstructured interviews.
- Researcher establishes a good relationship, creating rapport. Likely to open up.
- Respondent more likely to discuss sensitive topics.
- provides richer and more valid data.
Name 3 weaknesses of unstructured interviews.
- Qualitative data hard to categorise as of the sheer volume of content produced. Hard to turn into graphs/tables.
- With sheer volume of data, researcher may be biased in the material they view as important.
- Tend to have fewer participants than surveys, so less generalisable.
