Ethnography in Development Research
Ethnography
Doing Development Research Ch 17
Ethnography intro…
Understand the cultural phenomena that
reflects and guides life
Emic and etic
Descriptive and interprets
Participation is important because it gives
perspective on what is happening
Guidelines for Field work
Field work is the most defining part of
ethnography
Modern ethnography can be 2 weeks
Selecting field; nature of the setting
Choosing sampling
Gaining access, Gatekeepers can be involved
(formal and informal)
Easier when the research has knowledge of
the area
The issue of gender maybe significant;
women are seen as less threatening
Becoming Invisible
Becoming part of the community
(immersion)
This is something you want but is also a
danger because you maybe implicated in
illegal activities
Reflexive positioning
A balance between insider and outside.
Physically and emotionally close but remain
professionally distant.
If you remain an outsider you have not
gained the rapport you need
Boundaries are not clear, it is relative to a lot
of social and cultural characteristics
Understand that your personal background
will influence how you understand what is
happening
Getting Out
Withdrawal is probably best handled in a
series of stages
People can feel used
Make the fact that you are leaving explicit
at the start and indicate date of leaving
Have an event to celebrate project
Field as construction
In the previous section we explored fieldwork
from a practical perspective, the researcher
simply entering the field with an ‘open mind’,
similar to Glaser and Strauss’s (1968 ) notion
of fieldwork as a ‘clean slate’ where the
researcher is free of prior experience.
However, as Funder (2005) warns, this notion
ignores the degree to which we are socialized
and institutionalized into adopting ways of
structuring and labeling the world we
explore.
Ethics
Fassin (2006) says IRB rules cater more to
biomedical than social research
tips for anonymity: remove identifying info;
use pseudonym; reduce/eliminate non-
relevant details; separate data and
interpretations so others can scrutinize; get
research subjects to assist in research;
include researcher’s responses into research
It maybe difficult to get informed consent
especially if you are working in public
settings
Ethnography in development research delves into understanding cultural phenomena to guide life, emphasizing the importance of participation and fieldwork. It discusses the nuances of becoming part of a community, maintaining a balance between insider and outsider perspectives, and handling withdrawal stages appropriately. The content covers practical considerations and the socialization aspect of fieldwork, providing insights into conducting research ethically and effectively.
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Presentation Transcript
Ethnography Doing Development Research Ch 17
Understand the cultural phenomena that reflects and guides life Emic and etic Descriptive and interprets Participation is important because it gives perspective on what is happening Ethnography intro
Field work is the most defining part of ethnography Modern ethnography can be 2 weeks Selecting field; nature of the setting Choosing sampling Gaining access, Gatekeepers can be involved (formal and informal) Easier when the research has knowledge of the area The issue of gender maybe significant; women are seen as less threatening Guidelines for Field work
Becoming part of the community (immersion) This is something you want but is also a danger because you maybe implicated in illegal activities Becoming Invisible
A balance between insider and outside. Physically and emotionally close but remain professionally distant. If you remain an outsider you have not gained the rapport you need Boundaries are not clear, it is relative to a lot of social and cultural characteristics Understand that your personal background will influence how you understand what is happening Reflexive positioning
Withdrawal is probably best handled in a series of stages People can feel used Make the fact that you are leaving explicit at the start and indicate date of leaving Have an event to celebrate project Getting Out
In the previous section we explored fieldwork from a practical perspective, the researcher simply entering the field with an open mind , similar to Glaser and Strauss s (1968 ) notion of fieldwork as a clean slate where the researcher is free of prior experience. However, as Funder (2005) warns, this notion ignores the degree to which we are socialized and institutionalized into adopting ways of structuring and labeling the world we explore. Field as construction
Fassin (2006) says IRB rules cater more to biomedical than social research tips for anonymity: remove identifying info; use pseudonym; reduce/eliminate non- relevant details; separate data and interpretations so others can scrutinize; get research subjects to assist in research; include researcher s responses into research It maybe difficult to get informed consent especially if you are working in public settings Ethics
