Understanding Ethnographic Research in Anthropology

 
Ethnographical research
 
Disciplinary root –anthropology
Central questions-what is the culture of this
group of people
 
What is ethnography research
 
 
Ethnography is a study through direct
observation of users in their natural
environment rather than in a lab. The
objective of this type of research is to gain
insights into how users interact with things
in their natural environment.
 
The aim of ethnographic research
 
Ethnography is a qualitative research study looking at the social
interaction of users in a given environment. This research provides
an in-depth insight into the user’s views and actions along with the
sights and sounds they encounter during their day. It provides the
researcher with an understanding of how those users see the world
and how they interact with everything around them.
Ethnography methods include direct observation, diary studies,
video recordings, photography and devices that a person uses
throughout the day. Observations can be made anywhere from the
user’s workplace, their home or while they are out with family and
friends. The length of the studies can vary depending on the
research that is being conducted. They can range from a couple of
hours of observation, to studies that last several months.
 
Ethnography in addition to being a
theoretical perspective is a method of
carrying out qualitative observational
research.
The basic purpose of ethnographic research
is to determine the physical and social
environment in which the individuals under
live, study, work and so forth.
 
The roots of anthropology includes the
cultural phenomenon.
Document and content analysis is concerned
with the explanation of status of some
phenomena at particular time or its
development over a period of time .it serves
as useful purpose in adding knowledge to
field of enquiry and in explaining certain
social events
 
In documentary analysis the source of data
may be
Records, reports, printed forms
,letters,autobiographies,diaries,composition
s,themes and other academic
works,books,periodicals,bulletins
,catellogues,syllabi,court decisions,pictures
,films and cartoons.
 
When using documentary sources one must
bear in mind that data appearing in print
are not necessarily trustworthy
Authenticity and validity of its content is
crucial.
It is the researchers obligation to to
establish trustworthiness of all data that he
or she draws from documentary sources.
 
Topics
 
To describe prevailing practices or
conditions
To discover the relative importance of or
interest in certain topics and problems
To discover the difficulty of presentation in
textbooks or in other publications
To analye types of errors in students work.
 
Ethnographic studies
 
Also known as cultural anthropology or
naturalistic inquiry.
It consisted of participant observation
,conversation, to study cultural
characteristics of primitive people
These groups were small in number
,geographically and culturally isolated with
little specialization in social function with
simple economies and technology
 
Cultural features as language ,marriage and
family life ,child rearing practices ,social
relations and rules of conduct ,political
institution ,methods of production were
analyzed.
 
Ethnographic methods of research have used
to investigate such problems as
Students leadership role in an urban racial
integrated high school
Pupil teacher relationship in Sunderban High
school.
Social relationships in class of emotionally
disturbed children
Staff parent interaction in an Individualized
Education Plan staffing.
 
Data collection techniques
 
Observation
Interview
The combination of the two
 
Observation can be of the setting or physical
environment ,social interactions, physical
activities ,non verbal communications
,planned and unplanned activities and
interactions
 
Interviews
 
The purpose of interviewing is to find out
what is in or someone else mind.
Interview data can easily become biased and
misleading if the person being interviewed is
aware of the perspective of the interviewer
Interview range from quite informal and
completely open ended to very formal with
the questions predetermined and asked in a
standard manner.
 
Data analysis
 
The first step in analyzing qualitative
research involves organizing the data
through observations, interviews and
documents.
The method of organizing data will differ
depending upon the research strategy and
data collection techniques used,
 
Second stage is data analysis ,description,
The researcher describes the various
pertinent aspects of the study including the
setting
Final step is interpretation involves
explaining the
findings,answerinwhy,questions,attaching
significance to particular results and putting
patterns into an analytic framework
 
The interpretation of qualitative research
data is more dependent on the researcher
background ,skills, biases and knowledge
than conclusion drawn from quantitative
research which are derived more directly
from the numerical analysis of data.
 
Advantages of ethnographic
research
 
 
Ability to see first-hand how users interact
with technology in their natural
environment
Identify unexpected issues that you might
not have encountered in a usability test
Opportunity to test new product ideas
before they are released to the market to see
what demand is like
 
 
Disadvantages of Ethnography
research
 
Because there is a greater insight into the
user it takes much longer to generate and
analyse all the findings.
Short studies may not get a user acting
naturally as they are aware of the
researchers present.
The cost of conducting ethnographic studies
is typically much higher than conducting a
usability test.
 
summary
 
Qualitative research focuses on in depth
interviews ,observations and document
analysis
Qualitative research interprets data without
numerical analysis
The most common forms of qualitative
research were document or content analysis
,case studies and ethnography.
Steps of qualitative data analysis are-data
organization, description of data and
interpretation of data.
 
Conclusion
 
Ethnographic studies are a good way to really understand
your users and the challenges they may face while going
about their everyday lives.
 The research will give you insights to your users that you
may not have seen if they were in a lab being asked to
complete a task. However, Ethnographic studies can be
costly and time consuming, so making sure that you get the
research method right is crucial to making sure that you
are getting the research questions answered. Having
conducted a study, you then need to present your findings
back in an informative and meaningful way that will allow
teams to use the information to make informed changes,
making sure that your own opinions have not come into the
findings.
 
Thanks
 
Dr Kalpana Patni Lakhera
Assistant Professor,Education
Uttarakhand Open University ,Haldwani
Slide Note
Embed
Share

Ethnographic research in anthropology focuses on studying cultures through direct observation in natural environments. It aims to gain insights into how users interact with their surroundings, providing in-depth understanding of social interactions, behaviors, and perspectives. Methods include direct observation, diary studies, and more, conducted over varying durations. Documentary analysis complements ethnography by examining historical data sources like records, books, and films to further enrich cultural understanding.


Uploaded on Jul 17, 2024 | 0 Views


Download Presentation

Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Ethnographical research Disciplinary root anthropology Central questions-what is the culture of this group of people

  2. What is ethnography research Ethnography is a study through direct observation of users in their natural environment rather than in a lab. The objective of this type of research is to gain insights into how users interact with things in their natural environment.

  3. The aim of ethnographic research Ethnography is a qualitative research study looking at the social interaction of users in a given environment. This research provides an in-depth insight into the user s views and actions along with the sights and sounds they encounter during their day. It provides the researcher with an understanding of how those users see the world and how they interact with everything around them. Ethnography methods include direct observation, diary studies, video recordings, photography and devices that a person uses throughout the day. Observations can be made anywhere from the user s workplace, their home or while they are out with family and friends. The length of the studies can vary depending on the research that is being conducted. They can range from a couple of hours of observation, to studies that last several months.

  4. Ethnography in addition to being a theoretical perspective is a method of carrying out qualitative observational research. The basic purpose of ethnographic research is to determine the physical and social environment in which the individuals under live, study, work and so forth.

  5. The roots of anthropology includes the cultural phenomenon. Document and content analysis is concerned with the explanation of status of some phenomena at particular time or its development over a period of time .it serves as useful purpose in adding knowledge to field of enquiry and in explaining certain social events

  6. In documentary analysis the source of data may be Records, reports, printed forms ,letters,autobiographies,diaries,composition s,themes and other academic works,books,periodicals,bulletins ,catellogues,syllabi,court decisions,pictures ,films and cartoons.

  7. When using documentary sources one must bear in mind that data appearing in print are not necessarily trustworthy Authenticity and validity of its content is crucial. It is the researchers obligation to to establish trustworthiness of all data that he or she draws from documentary sources.

  8. Topics To describe prevailing practices or conditions To discover the relative importance of or interest in certain topics and problems To discover the difficulty of presentation in textbooks or in other publications To analye types of errors in students work.

  9. Ethnographic studies Also known as cultural anthropology or naturalistic inquiry. It consisted of participant observation ,conversation, to study cultural characteristics of primitive people These groups were small in number ,geographically and culturally isolated with little specialization in social function with simple economies and technology

  10. Cultural features as language ,marriage and family life ,child rearing practices ,social relations and rules of conduct ,political institution ,methods of production were analyzed.

  11. Ethnographic methods of research have used to investigate such problems as Students leadership role in an urban racial integrated high school Pupil teacher relationship in Sunderban High school. Social relationships in class of emotionally disturbed children Staff parent interaction in an Individualized Education Plan staffing.

  12. Data collection techniques Observation Interview The combination of the two

  13. Observation can be of the setting or physical environment ,social interactions, physical activities ,non verbal communications ,planned and unplanned activities and interactions

  14. Interviews The purpose of interviewing is to find out what is in or someone else mind. Interview data can easily become biased and misleading if the person being interviewed is aware of the perspective of the interviewer Interview range from quite informal and completely open ended to very formal with the questions predetermined and asked in a standard manner.

  15. Data analysis The first step in analyzing qualitative research involves organizing the data through observations, interviews and documents. The method of organizing data will differ depending upon the research strategy and data collection techniques used,

  16. Second stage is data analysis ,description, The researcher describes the various pertinent aspects of the study including the setting Final step is interpretation involves explaining the findings,answerinwhy,questions,attaching significance to particular results and putting patterns into an analytic framework

  17. The interpretation of qualitative research data is more dependent on the researcher background ,skills, biases and knowledge than conclusion drawn from quantitative research which are derived more directly from the numerical analysis of data.

  18. Advantages of ethnographic research Ability to see first-hand how users interact with technology in their natural environment Identify unexpected issues that you might not have encountered in a usability test Opportunity to test new product ideas before they are released to the market to see what demand is like

  19. Disadvantages of Ethnography research Because there is a greater insight into the user it takes much longer to generate and analyse all the findings. Short studies may not get a user acting naturally as they are aware of the researchers present. The cost of conducting ethnographic studies is typically much higher than conducting a usability test.

  20. summary Qualitative research focuses on in depth interviews ,observations and document analysis Qualitative research interprets data without numerical analysis The most common forms of qualitative research were document or content analysis ,case studies and ethnography. Steps of qualitative data analysis are-data organization, description of data and interpretation of data.

  21. Conclusion Ethnographic studies are a good way to really understand your users and the challenges they may face while going about their everyday lives. The research will give you insights to your users that you may not have seen if they were in a lab being asked to complete a task. However, Ethnographic studies can be costly and time consuming, so making sure that you get the research method right is crucial to making sure that you are getting the research questions answered. Having conducted a study, you then need to present your findings back in an informative and meaningful way that will allow teams to use the information to make informed changes, making sure that your own opinions have not come into the findings.

  22. Thanks Dr Kalpana Patni Lakhera Assistant Professor,Education Uttarakhand Open University ,Haldwani

Related


More Related Content

giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#