lang cult field research
Post on 10-May-2015
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Field Research
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Still LifeObserve and describe the objects you can
see on the table.
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Physical DescriptionSelect a section of this room which is
immediately across from where you are sitting. Describe this section of the room in detail. I’ll ask you to stop after 15 minutes.
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Physical Description
DiscussionHow did you approach this exercise?How is this exercise like the previous?
Unlike?What was the most difficult part of the
exercise?
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The research tree: summarising approaches
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Gay, L.R. & Airasian, P. (2003).
Ethnography
Ethnography is the art and science of describing a human group – its institutions, interpersonal behaviours, material productions, and beliefs.
Ethnographic researchers are primarily concerned with the routine, everyday lives of the people they study.
Flick
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Ethnography as Method
Field based Personalised Multifactorial (triangulation) Long-term Inductive Dialogic holistic
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Ethnography as Product Narratives which draw the reader into a
vicarious experience of the community within which the researcher has lived
Three kinds of stories (see Van Maanen)RealistConfessional impressionistic
FormIntroductionSettingAnalysisconclusion
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Research Design: cyclical
Making an ethnographic record
Asking ethnographicquestions
Collecting ethnographic data
Analysing ethnographic data
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Writing an ethnography
Selecting an ethnographicproject
Theoretical Orientations
Symbolic interactionism Feminism Marxism Critical theory Cultural studies postmodernism
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Symbolic interactionism Sociological school which has been
influential in ethnographic studies. Its principle interests are:Meaning; human beings act towards things on
the basis of the meanings they have for them.Process; these meanings expressed through
symbols are handled through an interpretive process.
Interaction/Context: meanings are the product of social interaction in society.
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Field research Two principle methods of field research;
Participant observationinterviewing
In both, the researcher is the main instrument for doing the research.
Problems of access and selection
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Access Definition: gaining permission to carry out
the field research in a particular social/institutional setting
Initial contactsGatekeepersEthical consideration
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Selection strategies: sampling
people
SitesTime
periods
Processes
events
Social situation
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Which aspect of reality do you want to investigate?
Selection strategies: example A participant observation study exploring
how people cross the road.
Locations: which roads to choose; pedestrian crossings
Events: crossing the road; waiting; accidentsTime periods; different times during the dayPeople; differentiated by age, gender, alone/in
groups
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Participant observation The researcher ‘participates’ in the situation The researcher primarily collects material through
observation Look at these field roles:
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Complete participant
Participant as observer Observer as participant
Complete observer
Comparative detachmentComparative involvement
Fieldwork
Collecting data: making observations
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Descriptiveobservation
Focusedobservation
Selective observation
Descriptive observation Aims to describe the social situation
The settingPeopleevents
Understanding context is fundamental Descriptive observation often result in
narratives – storiesEvents/episodesRoles/charactersTime sequences
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Focussed/Selective observation Focussed Limiting the scope – focussing Made after analysing descriptive data They construct particular elements of the study
Selective Further focus Looking for contrasts, differences between
different elements
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Description
Task: To describe a person sitting across from you, either one you know or a stranger.
Time: 15 mins Select a person to describe physically Arrange your 15 minutes to your best advantage Use descriptive terms and work for accuracy
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Description: Feedback
What can you identify as major differences in observation of a still life, a setting and a person?
How did you approach this exercise?
What was difficult for you in the exercise and what do you want to do about it?
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Physical Description Select an area on campus to observe. Set
aside 30 minutes of quiet time to describe it. Set reasonable goals for the description. For example, select one part of the library or one section of the student union.
Again, write down your notes in fieldwork form and then write them up on the wiki. (nb do this with all the observation exercises we complete)
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Feedback
How did you approach this description of a setting?
How did this differ from the previous description you completed?
What was the most difficult part of this exercise for you?
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