Learning Objectives

 Define what is ethnography and ethnographic

research.

 Understand why ethnographic method is chosen in

educational research.

 Understand the advantages and disadvantages of using

ethnographic research.

 Give examples in your workplace where ethnography

would be an appropriate research method.

 Discuss the different features about ethnographic

research . 1
 As a noun, the
term
“ethnography‟
means
portrait or
description of
a people or
description of
a culture or a
piece of
culture.

- Is a research process based on fieldwork using a variety of research

techniques i.e. observation, interview, collection of objects & artefacts,
which includes engagement in the lives of those being studied over an
extended period of time.
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Ethnography as a Method
in Educational Research
 You want to know why people behave in a certain way over a
period of time

 You want to know how, when and why people behave the way
they do when they interact with others in a particular setting or
situation

 You want to understand a phenomenon in its natural setting

 You want data to support your understanding of the complexity of

society

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Advantages of Ethnographic method

It uses multiple
data collection
It provides methods
the focusing on the Is well suited
It reveals researcher cultural aspects for locating the
nuances and with a much of people meanings
subtleties more studied over people place on
that other comprehensiv reasonably the events,
methodologies e perspective sustained processes, and
miss. than other period, so as to patterns of
forms of reveal the their lives.
complexity of
research. how and why
things happen.

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Disadvantages of Ethnographic method

It needs highly
creative
It is risky in
approaches to
terms of access
have enough
Time-consuming to the group of
access to the
people or
culture or group
organisations
of people under
study

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Samples of Topics appropriate for
Ethnographic Research Method

School School School social Other school

activities classes groups settings

Post-
Teacher Support
secondary / Support staff
social groups groups
college

Adult sports Civic

Social Groups Sports
leagues organizations

Health/ Family/ Hobbies/

Vocations
Fitness Lifestyle Interests
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 Steps in
Ethnographic
Nature of Research
Ethnographic
Sample
Research Size

Ending the Research

Features of the Questions
Fieldwork
Ethnographic
Research Method

The Researcher’s
Interview Role

Access to
Field Notes
Field Site
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Steps involving Ethnographic Research
Methods

Description

Themes Interpretation

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Sample Size
How big or how small should the sample be?
 In ethnographic research and
qualitative research in general, the
issue of sample size is not that easily
determined.

 The aim of qualitative research is

not to generalise but rather to have
a complete understanding of a
particular situation without losing
sight of the whole, so small samples
do not permit generalisation to a
larger population.

 Focus is on generating themes and

categories and perhaps even theories
from the data about the people you
are studying.
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Research Questions

** Ethnographic research relies on both observation and interviewing that

is continual and sustained over time

**Having research question or at least guiding questions is a good idea

because it gives you some way to focus your attention especially if you do
not have the luxury of time and resources.

Sample questions on Case Study : “An Elementary School Hallway:

Social Formations and Meanings outside the Classroom” by D Ratcliff
(1994).

1. What formal whole-class movements occur in hallways?

2. What informal social activities take place in hallways?
3. What do the various social formations and activities within them
mean to children?

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Researcher’s Role
Bryman (2004) identified these forms of ethnography whereby the role
of the researcher is different:

1. Open Field site and Covert Role: The ethnographer enters an open field
site and people do not know what he or she is doing.

2. Open Field site and Overt Role: The ethnographer enters an open field
site and tells people what he or she is doing.

3. Closed Field site and Overt Role: The ethnographer enters a closed
field site, where he or she reveals his or her identity as a researcher to the
subjects.

4. Closed field site and Covert Role: The ethnographer enters a closed
field site without disclosing his or her identity.

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Characteristics of an Ethnographer

An Ethnographer
An has to be
Ethnographers
ethnographer patient since
are expected ethnographic
you should
Ethnographers to be research is
have more
subscribe to “reflexive” conducted to
than one way
some form of (note that it get an in depth
to show how view of people’s
“cultural is different
you arrived at behaviours,
relativism” from
the beliefs, values
‘reflective) in
conclusions of and feelings
their work. over a long
your research.
period of time

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Access to Field Site
How does the researcher gain access to the field site?

Getting permission / Gaining Access

• seek permission to gain access i.e. Send letter
request, etc.
• Gain access from Gatekeepers

Decide when to do your observations

Decide how long and how often do you

intend to observe.

Plan where to position yourself while doing

the observation.
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Field Notes
Two (2) levels of note-taking :
1. One the surface level are the facts, which are direct descriptions of what
was observed and the verbatim recordings of what was overheard.
2. On another level are observer’s comments about what was observed.

Checklist on what to record :

• Space : the physical place or places
• Actor : the people involved
• Activity : a set of related acts people do
• Object : the physical things which are present
• Act : single actions people do
• Event : a set of related activities that people carry out
• Time : the sequencing that takes place over time
• Goal : the things people are trying to accomplish
• Feeling : the emotions felt and expressed
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Standard Rules for Taking Field Notes
 Take notes as soon as possible, and do not talk to anyone before
note-taking.
 Count the number of key words or phrases used by subjects.
 Carefully record the order or sequence of events, and how long each
sequence lasts.
 Do not regard anything as insignificant; record even the smallest
things.
 Draw maps or diagrams of the location, including your movements
and any reaction by others.
 Write quickly and do not worry about spelling; device you own
system of punctuation.
 Avoid evaluative judgements or summarising; for example do not
call somebody “a bully”, just describe his or her actions.
 Include your own thought and feelings in a separate section; your
later thoughts in another section.
 Always make backup copies of your notes and keep them in separate
location.
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The Interview
1. Establish rapport with subjects by being a good listener.

2. Choose settings that would make person interviewed relaxed and

willing to talk openly.

3. Make a list of possible questions which help to zero in on different

aspects of the research question.

4. Be patient to vague responses.

5. Record important information like the date and place of the

interview

6. Tape the interview to capture nonverbal clues such as “ummmm-

hmmm”, pauses, hesitations, partially mentioned words, tone of
voice and so forth.
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How to End the Fieldwork?

1 2 3

• Keep your • Provide good • Ethical

promise and explanation of commitments
ensure that it is the need to must not be
never forgotten depart forgotten, such
as the need to
ensure person
and setting
confidentiality
unless there has
been an
argument that
the nature of
such a social
setting can be
disclosed.

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Nature of Ethnographic Research
It is an interpretive effort
undertaken by human being
with different backgrounds,
value systems, experiences
and so forth.
Ethnographic research is NOT :
• An objective research;
• Replicable unlike in experimental
research;
• Based on large number of subjects
like in a survey research;
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