Week 5 Flashcards
What are the main disciplines of ethnography in the 19th century?
European Ethnology, British Social Anthropology, American Cultural Anthropology
These disciplines reflect the historical context of ethnographic study during that time.
What cultural movement in the 19th century influenced ethnography?
Romanticism
This movement sparked interest in ‘exotic’ cultures and the image of the ‘noble savage’.
What is ‘cultural relativism’ as proposed by Franz Boas?
History over genetics
Boas emphasized understanding cultures in their own historical contexts rather than through a genetic lens.
What did Bronisław Malinowski contribute to ethnographic research?
Seemingly irrational customs have rational functions within a culture
He advocated for long-term fieldwork to understand local perspectives.
Who is known for studying Black culture and Afro-diasporic religions?
Zora Neale Hurston
She was a pioneer of the Harlem Renaissance.
Define ethnography in research.
Hermeneutical process involving detailed description of cultural practices and insights into their meanings
It aims to understand the symbolic world of people.
What are common methods used in ethnographic field research?
- Interviews (often informal)
- Documents
- (Participant) Observation
- Ethnographic mapping
The specific methods depend on the particular field.
What is the difference between ethnography as a method and as a written product?
Ethnography can refer to both a method and the written account of research
This duality complicates the definition of ethnography.
List the types of observers in ethnographic research.
- Complete Participant
- Participant as Observer
- Observer as Participant
- Complete Observer
Each type describes the level of involvement and awareness of the researcher’s role.
What is the emic perspective?
Understanding a culture from within, or ‘through the eyes of the people’
This perspective emphasizes the insider’s view.
What is the etic perspective?
Understanding a culture from an external viewpoint
This perspective involves analyzing cultures using external criteria.
Define explicit knowledge.
Rules and laws accessible through enquiry; knowledge people are conscious of
This type of knowledge is easily articulated.
Define tacit knowledge.
Habits, practices, and customs not easily made explicit; implicit behavior
Tacit knowledge is often non-linguistic and harder to study.
What is ‘thick description’ according to Clifford Geertz?
Understanding culture as webs of significance, focusing on meaning in context
This approach contrasts with ‘thin description’, which emphasizes mere reporting.
What is the rule of thumb for field notes in ethnographic research?
10 pages for every hour of participant observation
This guideline emphasizes the depth of detail required in field notes.
What are the two parts of field notes?
- Descriptive notes
- Reflective notes
These parts serve different purposes in documenting research.
What types of notes should be differentiated in field notes according to Schatzman and Strauss?
- Observation Notes (ON)
- Methodological Notes (MN)
- Theoretical Notes (TN)
- Personal Notes (PN)
Each type serves a distinct purpose for the researcher.
Fill in the blank: Ethnography is an attempt to understand the ______ of people.
[symbolic world]
This understanding is crucial for interpreting cultural practices.
