Ethonographic Ethonographic ResearchResearch

Kunicko Coleman, Nazia Rizvi, Anna Kunicko Coleman, Nazia Rizvi, Anna Rodriguez, and Sara SandsRodriguez, and Sara Sands

When is it used?When is it used?

Ethno= cultural; graph=writingEthno= cultural; graph=writing Qualitative, Extended period of time, Qualitative, Extended period of time,

ImmersiveImmersive Origins in cultural anthropology and Origins in cultural anthropology and

sociologysociology Studies human interactions in natural Studies human interactions in natural

social settings and activitiessocial settings and activities Main Focus: Cultural contextMain Focus: Cultural context

How it is used and what How it is used and what questions will it answer?questions will it answer?

Types: interviews, observations (overt, Types: interviews, observations (overt, covert)covert)

Ethical ImplicationsEthical Implications Resulting Product= Narrative DescriptionResulting Product= Narrative Description Questions based on how, what, where, Questions based on how, what, where,

when, and whowhen, and who

What type of data What type of data collection is used?collection is used?

Research TypeResearch Type Data CollectionData Collection

Participant and non-participant Participant and non-participant observationobservation

Watching or being part of a social Watching or being part of a social contextcontext

Semi-structured interviewsSemi-structured interviews Open and closed questions Open and closed questions that cover identified topicsthat cover identified topics

Unstructured interviewsUnstructured interviews Open questions that enable a free Open questions that enable a free development of conversationdevelopment of conversation

Collected materialCollected materialAnything from artifacts to letters, Anything from artifacts to letters,

books or reportsbooks or reports

Data AnalysisData Analysis

The analysis of the data involves interpretation of the meanings and functions of human The analysis of the data involves interpretation of the meanings and functions of human actionsactions

Mainly takes the form of verbal descriptions and explanations, with quantification and Mainly takes the form of verbal descriptions and explanations, with quantification and statistical analysis playing a subordinate role at moststatistical analysis playing a subordinate role at most

The researcher is the detective looking for trends and patterns that occur across the various The researcher is the detective looking for trends and patterns that occur across the various groups or within individuals groups or within individuals

The process of analysis and interpretation involve disciplined examination, creative insight, The process of analysis and interpretation involve disciplined examination, creative insight, and careful attention to the purposes of the research study and careful attention to the purposes of the research study

Analysis and interpretation are conceptually separate processes.Analysis and interpretation are conceptually separate processes. Begins with assembling the raw materials and getting an overview or total picture Begins with assembling the raw materials and getting an overview or total picture

of the entire process.of the entire process. The researcher's role in is to covers a continuum with assembly of raw data on one The researcher's role in is to covers a continuum with assembly of raw data on one

extreme and interpretative comments on the otherextreme and interpretative comments on the other The process of bringing order to the data, organizing what is there into patterns, The process of bringing order to the data, organizing what is there into patterns,

categories, and basic descriptive units categories, and basic descriptive units Involves consideration of words, tone, context, non-verbals, internal consistency, Involves consideration of words, tone, context, non-verbals, internal consistency,

frequency, extensiveness, intensity, specific responses, and big ideas frequency, extensiveness, intensity, specific responses, and big ideas Data reduction strategies are essential Data reduction strategies are essential

Data AnalyzedData Analyzed

Interpretation involves attaching meaning and Interpretation involves attaching meaning and significance to the analysis, explaining descriptive significance to the analysis, explaining descriptive patterns, and looking for relationships and linkages patterns, and looking for relationships and linkages among descriptive dimensionsamong descriptive dimensions

Once these processes have been completed the Once these processes have been completed the researcher must report his or her interpretations and researcher must report his or her interpretations and conclusionsconclusions

Reliability and Validity Reliability and Validity

• descriptivedescriptive• interpretiveinterpretive• theoreticaltheoretical• evaluativeevaluative

alsoalso

• generalizabilitygeneralizability• trustworthinesstrustworthiness

ExamplesExamples

Preparing Preservice Teachers in a Preparing Preservice Teachers in a Diverse World Diverse World

Hispanic Student Culture in Urban Hispanic Student Culture in Urban Community CollegeCommunity College

Pros and ConsPros and Cons

ProsPros Natural settingNatural setting Holistic description Holistic description Accurate reflection of Accurate reflection of

participants’ participants’ perspectives and perspectives and behaviorbehavior

ConsCons Not accepted by the Not accepted by the

participantsparticipants Time consuming Time consuming Impact on cultural Impact on cultural

groupgroup