Ethnography

Danielle Gibson, Kamryn Escalante, Gabriela Chub, Kimberly Amaya, Bianca Najarro & Stratton
 Objectives
● Background
● Stages in Conducting Ethnography
● Types of Ethnography
● Advantages & Disadvantages
● Examples of how it is used from a past research
● Explanation how it can be used in our local setting using
research method Applications
● Summary
 Background
Definition: The study of people in their own environment
through the use of methods such as participant observation and
face-to-face interviewing.
● Bronislaw Malinowski is known as the father of Ethnography
● Henry Schoolcraft was one of the first Americans to publish
ethnographic school work.
● In 1879 the Bureau of Ethnology gathered information on the
Indians.
 Stages in conducting
Ethnography
1. Problem formulation
2. Selecting a research setting
3. Gaining access
4. Presenting oneself
5. Gathering and recording information
a. - running description
6. Ideas and notes for further information use
7. Personal impressions and feelings
8. Methodological notes
Types of Ethnographic Research
• Autoethnography

• Visual Ethnography

• Realist ethnography
 Advantages & Disadvantages
● Gives a rich, detailed picture of
situation/research
● can account for the complexity of
group behaviours
● reveal interrelationships among
several dimensions of group
interactions and provide context
for behaviors.
● are able to understand why
behaviours occur, rather than just
noting the occurrence.
● Ethnography is time consuming
and requires a well-trained
researcher
● It takes time to build trust with
informants in order to facilitate
full and honest discourse.
● Bias on the part of the researcher
can affect both the design of the
study and the collection and
interpretation of data.
● Too little data may lead to false
● assumptions about behaviour
patterns
 Examples of Past Research
Lenski, S.D., Crawford, K, Crumpler, T, & Stallworth, C. (2005). Preparing
preservice teachers in a diverse world. Action in Teacher Education, 27 (3), 3-12.
Purpose of the study: to provide a more adequate preparation for working in high-
need schools by assisting educators in the development of “ habits of mind” that
incorporate an understanding and valuing of students’ culture and a recognition of the
need to consider those cultures in teaching practices.
Participants: 28 preservice teachers who enrolled in an elementary education
program.
How can it be used in our local
setting?
• In Belizean Health Care- Understanding the organization
our health care
• In Belizean Education- Poverty Effects on the schooling
of children
 Summary
• Ethnography studies people in their own environment through
the use of methods such as participant observations and face-
to-face interviews.
• Types of ethnography: autoethnography, ethnography in
photography and video and realist ethnography.
• Ethnography disadvantages outweigh advantages.
• Can be used in our healthcare and education systems.
 References:
Chief, E. in. (2017, January 14). 9 Pros and Cons of Ethnography. Retrieved from

https://greengarageblog.org/9-pros-and-cons-of-ethnography.

Gan, R. (2011, April 17). Ethnographic Research. Retrieved from

https://www.slideshare.net/rhydave24/ethnographic-research-7659486.

Lenski, S.D., Crawford, K, Crumplet, T, & Stallworth, C. (2005). Preparing preservice

teachers in a diverse world. Action in Teacher Education, 27 (3), 3-12.

NPS Ethnography: African American Heritage & Ethnography. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.nps.gov/ethnography/aah/aaheritage/ERCb.htm.

Sangasubana, N. (2011). How to Conduct Ethnographic Research. The Qualitative Report,

568-569.