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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