Week 11: Ethnography and Institutional Ethnography

Question 1

What is the primary focus of ethnographic research?
A. Testing hypotheses in natural sciences
B. Understanding cultural norms and behaviors
C. Developing theories unrelated to social actions
D. Establishing quantitative methods for social studies

Answer 1

Answer: B
Rationale: Ethnography focuses on studying human behavior in cultural contexts to understand norms, routines, and social actions.

Question 2

What does the term “emic” refer to in ethnography?
A. The researcher’s interpretation
B. An outsider’s perspective
C. An insider’s perspective
D. Statistical analysis

Answer 2

Answer: C
Rationale: Emic refers to the insider’s perspective, representing the views of those within the cultural group being studied.

Question 3

What distinguishes “etic” perspectives in ethnography?
A. It involves participants interpreting their culture.
B. It represents the researcher’s external viewpoint.
C. It focuses solely on numeric data.
D. It is always more accurate than emic perspectives.

Answer 3

Answer: B
Rationale: Etic perspectives are the interpretations made by researchers from an outsider’s viewpoint.

Question 4

Which of the following is considered a main feature of ethnography?
A. Randomized sampling
B. Controlled laboratory settings
C. Thick description
D. Quantitative surveys

Answer 4

Answer: C
Rationale: Ethnography emphasizes thick descriptions to capture the layers of meaning in cultural behaviors.

Question 5

What is a key informant in ethnographic research?
A. A secondary source of data
B. A person who provides deep insights into the cultural group
C. A tool used to analyze data
D. An outsider observing the group

Answer 5

Answer: B
Rationale: Key informants are individuals within the group who offer valuable insights and information to the researcher.

Question 6

What is the purpose of field notes in ethnography?
A. To analyze numerical data
B. To record and reflect on observations made in natural settings
C. To compare with unrelated research findings
D. To develop survey questions

Answer 6

Answer: B
Rationale: Field notes document observations and reflections from the research setting.

Question 7

What are “thick descriptions” in ethnographic research?
A. Detailed, layered narratives of cultural phenomena
B. Basic, surface-level descriptions
C. Numeric summaries of behaviors
D. Interviews with key informants

Answer 7

Answer: A
Rationale: Thick descriptions offer deep insights into cultural experiences and their meanings.

Question 8

What is the purpose of critical ethnography?
A. To focus on small, isolated cultural phenomena
B. To challenge power structures and inequalities
C. To avoid any subjective analysis
D. To create fictional narratives for storytelling

Answer 8

Answer: B
Rationale: Critical ethnography critiques societal structures and power dynamics affecting the group.

Question 9

Which phase of fieldwork involves narrowing down focus to specific issues?
A. Initial phase
B. Middle phase
C. Final phase
D. Post-field phase

Answer 9

Answer: B
Rationale: In the middle phase, researchers refine their focus based on initial observations.

Question 10

How do researchers achieve data saturation in ethnography?
A. By stopping data collection arbitrarily
B. When no new themes or patterns emerge
C. After interviewing only key informants
D. By using a predetermined time frame

Answer 10

Answer: B
Rationale: Saturation occurs when additional data collection no longer reveals new information.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of an artifact in ethnographic research?
A. Statistical graphs
B. Cultural symbols or tools
C. Quantitative surveys
D. Unrelated historical documents

Answer 11

Answer: B
Rationale: Artifacts include physical items or symbols relevant to the cultural group being studied.

Question 12

What is the central epistemological assumption in ethnography?
A. Knowledge is universal and fixed.
B. Knowledge is constructed by cultural groups and individuals.
C. Knowledge excludes the researcher’s perspective.
D. Knowledge must be derived from laboratory experiments

Answer 12

Answer: B
Rationale: Ethnography assumes knowledge is socially constructed within cultural contexts.

Question 13

What is a hallmark characteristic of autoethnography?
A. Focusing solely on outsider perspectives
B. Including the researcher’s personal experiences
C. Ignoring cultural norms of the group
D. Avoiding any subjective analysis

Answer 13

Answer: B
Rationale: Autoethnography integrates the researcher’s own experiences with the cultural study.

Question 14

What is the significance of using natural settings in ethnography?
A. To increase control over variables
B. To study cultural phenomena in their authentic environment
C. To limit participant interaction
D. To simulate laboratory conditions

Answer 14

Answer: B
Rationale: Ethnography relies on natural settings to observe behaviors as they occur authentically.

Question 15

What is institutional ethnography primarily focused on?
A. Power dynamics within institutions
B. Personal narratives of marginalized groups
C. Statistical analysis of cultural behaviors
D. Symbolic interactions in informal groups

Answer 15

Answer: A
Rationale: Institutional ethnography examines how institutional structures influence individuals’ lives.

Question 16

What is the primary goal of ethnographic research?
A. To test scientific hypotheses
B. To compare statistical data across cultures
C. To gain a deep understanding of cultural practices
D. To create abstract theoretical models

Answer 16

Answer: C
Rationale: Ethnography seeks to deeply understand cultural norms, values, and practices from an insider’s perspective.

Question 17

In ethnography, what does “thick description” aim to provide?
A. An in-depth statistical analysis
B. A detailed account of cultural contexts and behaviors
C. A brief summary of cultural observations
D. A focus on laboratory-based findings

Answer 17

Answer: B
Rationale: Thick description involves capturing detailed, nuanced cultural meanings and behaviors to provide a comprehensive understanding

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of an “etic” perspective in ethnographic research?
A. A researcher’s analysis of cultural rituals
B. A participant’s explanation of their beliefs
C. An insider’s view on cultural practices
D. A community’s oral history

Answer 18

Answer: A
Rationale: The etic perspective refers to the researcher’s external interpretation of cultural phenomena.

Question 19

What is the role of a key informant in ethnographic studies?
A. To provide in-depth insights into cultural practices
B. To represent the entire population being studied
C. To analyze the researcher’s findings
D. To critique the study design

Answer 19

Answer: A
Rationale: Key informants are individuals within the group who offer valuable cultural knowledge and insights to the researcher.

Question 20

Which term describes the insider’s perspective in ethnography?
A. Emic
B. Etic
C. Reflexivity
D. Positionality

Answer 20

Answer: A
Rationale: Emic perspectives reflect the views and understandings of those within the cultural group.

Question 21

What type of data is primarily collected during ethnographic fieldwork?
A. Laboratory reports
B. Field notes and participant observations
C. Quantitative surveys
D. Experimental results

Answer 21

Answer: B
Rationale: Ethnographic research relies on qualitative data, such as field notes and observations made during interactions with participants.

Question 22

Why is reflexivity important in ethnography?
A. It ensures all participants share identical experiences.
B. It eliminates the need for ethical considerations.
C. It guarantees objective, unbiased findings.
D. It helps researchers remain aware of their influence on the study.

Answer 22

Answer: D
Rationale: Reflexivity requires researchers to examine their assumptions, biases, and influence on the research process and outcomes.

Question 23

What is a defining feature of autoethnography?
A. Avoiding the researcher’s perspective
B. Prioritizing statistical data over narratives
C. Integrating the researcher’s personal experiences
D. Relying solely on outsider observations

Answer 23

Answer: C
Rationale: Autoethnography incorporates the researcher’s own lived experiences and reflections alongside the cultural analysis.

Question 24

Which of the following is an essential step during the analysis phase of ethnography?
A. Generating numeric datasets
B. Identifying patterns and themes within cultural practices
C. Avoiding all subjective interpretations
D. Conducting controlled experiments

Answer 24

Answer: B
Rationale: Ethnographic analysis involves identifying patterns and themes to explain cultural norms and behaviors.

Question 25

What distinguishes critical ethnography from traditional ethnography?
A. Its focus on abstract theorizing
B. Its exclusion of participant narratives
C. Its reliance on quantitative methodologies
D. Its critique of societal power structures and inequalities

Answer 25

Answer: D
Rationale: Critical ethnography examines how power and inequality shape cultural experiences and challenges dominant ideologies.

Question 26

What does “participant observation” involve in ethnographic research?
A. Collecting data without interacting with participants
B. Immersing oneself in the community while observing behaviors
C. Using only interviews to gather data
D. Analyzing laboratory results

Answer 26

Answer: B
Rationale: Participant observation is a core ethnographic method where researchers engage with the community to understand cultural practices.

Question 27

In institutional ethnography, what is the primary focus?
A. How institutions shape individuals’ lives and behaviors
B. Individual experiences of social norms
C. Creating quantitative models for social systems
D. Comparing statistical data across institutions

Answer 27

Answer: A
Rationale: Institutional ethnography examines how institutional structures influence and organize individuals’ daily lives.

Question 28

What is the purpose of “emic” data in ethnography?
A. To verify researcher biases
B. To establish control over the study
C. To critique outsider perspectives
D. To explore insider perspectives on cultural phenomena

Answer 28

Answer: D
Rationale: Emic data reflect the views and experiences of cultural insiders, providing an authentic understanding of the group.

Question 29

What distinguishes ethnographic interviews from other qualitative interviews?
A. They avoid all subjective input.
B. They focus solely on verifying statistical findings.
C. They are deeply tied to the cultural context of the participants.
D. They follow rigid, structured protocols.

Answer 29

Answer: C
Rationale: Ethnographic interviews explore participants’ experiences within their cultural context, often using open-ended questions.

Question 30

What is the significance of artifacts in ethnographic research?
A. They are used to generalize findings across cultures.
B. They offer insights into the cultural practices and values of a group.
C. They replace participant observation.
D. They ensure the research remains quantitative.

Answer 30

Answer: B
Rationale: Artifacts are physical items that reflect the cultural values and practices of the group being studied.