Ethnographic Research

Design: problems, cases and samples

Ethnographic reserach: general criteria
 Ethnographic research does not test hypotheses. It produces descriptions, explains phenomena,
maps out populations, networks, and issues, and develops theories.
 The more trained (in terms of theories, scientific developments, and politics) eye you have, the
higher number of problems you will identify. (Informed observation).
 Theories need to be adjusted to facts, not the opposite.
 Research problems evolve or shift focus.
 Viable research problems depend on 1) external resources such as time and funding. 2) Personal
resources such as knowledge, social skills, networks, opportunities.
 In ER the development of problems is rarely completed before the actual fieldwork.
 The ethnographer aims to observe both patterns ‘rules’ and exceptions or the ‘extraordinary’.
 The generation of research questions (Foreshadowed
problems)

Absence of detailed Literature review may prompt Social events can prompt
knowledge of a process or more questions than clarities. research questions
phenomenon
 The generation of research questions (Foreshadowed
problems)
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Chance encounters and From difference, conflict,

personal experiences. negative feelings, etc.
 The development of research problems (Types of research
problems)

Topical problems Generic problems Going back and forth

- Less abstract.
- People or situations readily
identifiable.
- ‘Topos’.
- Operational- Behaviour
- Easier to identify.
- More abstract.
- Concerns are top-down.
- Affect / influence
behaviour.
- Harder to identify without
informed observations.
- There must be constant
oscilation between topical
and generic problems.
E.g. (P. 28).
- Bottom-up or top-down.
 Selecting settings and cases

Settings
 Unexpected features or issues of the setting
may produce changes in RQs, focus, problems,
etc. This is why ‘problems evolve’.
 How to identify a good location before
research design and fieldwork:
1. Collect and analyze documentary evidence
about the setting.
2. Interview informally with someone from the
setting who can be of easy access.
 Selecting settings and cases

Settings Generalization??
3. If posible, make visits (overtly or covertly).  QUESTION: Why do we say that
generalization is not the primary concern of
4. Carry out pilot research. This will also help to
ethnographic research? (P. 32, 34.).
refine the problem.
- Because the purpose may be ‘testing or
5. Consider practical aspects such as: 1) key
improving a theory’. (GTM).
participants and their actual access. 2) costs. 3)
documents required and their accessibility. 4) - Because we “assess the typicality of the case or
time. 6) number of settings. 7) participant cases studied” by triangulation. (P.34).
observer?
6. QUESTION: Why do we say that “it’s
not posible to give an exhaustive account of any
locale? (p. 32).
Sampling within a case: “Decisions must be made about where to observe and when,
who to talk to, and what to ask, as well as about what to record and how.” (p 35)
Time
- Time as research focus.
- List possible sociological
aspects of temporality in the
selected setting (relatioships
time-space, shifts, careers,
deadlines, schedules, days of
the week, etc.).
- Planning time management of
the research agenda.
- Combine observations,
registers, transcriptions,
Reading, analysis, and
reflection.
People
- Do not represent or make
accounts of populations
without making samples.
- Use categories that are
employed by participants. (in-
vivo codes).
- The researcher can also create
his/her own categories.
Context
- Be aware that variationns in
contexts affect or may affect
people’s behaviour.
- Also, who decides on contxts
changes, planning and
management is paramount.
Example: shadowing.
- Do not mistake places for
contexts.
- QUESTION: What’s the
difference between them? (p. 39).