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Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

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Page 1: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Page 2: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Types of field research

Ethnography, ethnomethodology, phenomenological studies, grounded theory studies are all different variants of what is called field research in sociology

Often field research is a combination of two or more approaches, done along with interviewing. Case studies may also be done.

Page 3: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Ethnography A way of building an understanding the culture and

behaviours of a group as a whole. Done in a setting or field site where a group of

people share a common culture. In sociology, ethnography usually called a field

study Uses:

Participant Observation Interviews with Informants Examination of documents and cultural artifacts

Page 4: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

More on Ethnography...

Different definitions, broadly speaking, type of research associated with studying the natural setting.

Has its roots in cultural anthropology, whereby the researcher examines a group’s observable and learned patterns of behaviour, customs, and ways of life by getting involved in the day-to-day lives of the people or by interviewing one-on-one members of a group.

Can be used to study of ethnic collectivities. To study how members of ethnic groups identify

themselves, how they give meaning to their ethno-cultural identity and how it has changed across generations.

Page 5: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

New Ethnography

“Extensive fieldwork of various types including participant observation, formal and informal interviewing, document collecting, filming, recording and so on.”

As Berg states, a detailed examination of people and their social discourses and the various outcomes of their actions.

Page 6: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Ethnomethodology The study of commonsense knowledge How do individuals make sense of social

situations and act on their knowledge? What are the tacit rules used by members of

a culture? Detailed studies of interactions Breeching experiments (Garfinkel)

To uncover hidden norms

Page 7: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Phenomenological Study

Understanding an experience from a research participant's point of view

Interview several participants as to their perceptions of an experience

Try to build a picture of the experience through using a combination of theories, literature in the area, illustrated by anecdotes, to build a detailed portrait of the experience

Use of Max Weber’s “verstehen”

Page 8: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Grounded Theory Study*

Theories are empirically grounded into the data. Data collection and analysis are combined. Cycle – observe data, modify theory, observe data based

on theory An “inductive” theory building process Developed 1960’s by Barney Glaser, Anselm

Strauss (1968) Used for clinical sociology An important methodological breakthrough Def’n: The systematic generation of theory from

data *is an experiential methodology

Page 9: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Grounded Theory (cont.)

Main assumptions: Social life integrated and patterned All actions integrated with other actions Can discover pattern categories within which the

action is integrated All social action is multivariate

Inductive vs. deductive is an oversimplification of complex thinking processes (i.e. thinking up hypotheses actually an inductive process)

Page 10: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Validity in Field Research

Problematic because of investigator subjectivity

Can counteract by: using multiple sources of evidence, establishing a chain of evidence as in a grounded

theory study and having a draft case study report reviewed by

key informants (Yin, 1994)

Page 11: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Participant and Non-Participant Observation in Field Research

Preparing for the field: 1. Background preparation and literature review

2. Talking to informants

3. Gaining entry into the group Gatekeepers Public vs. private settings

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Entry to the Field: Gatekeepers Gatekeepers, Guides, Informants: you should learn

who the “important” people are that can help you or hinder your research. How can they help you? How can they hinder/influence your research?

Becoming Invisible: What does it mean? Is it advantageous and how can you become invisible?

Page 13: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

The Various Roles of the Observer (Raymond Gold’s levels, 1983) A. Complete participant

B. Participant-as-observer

C. Observer-as-participant

D. Complete observer

Page 14: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Ethnography: Considerations and Issues

Access to Setting: careful planning; it varies depending on scope of research, the resources available, and whether the community is easily accessible or not.

Reflexivity: acknowledging that your own subjectivity is part of the research and can influence outcome. In ethnography, reflexivity is not only encouraged, it is demanded. You must have a “dialogue” about not only what you know, but how you come to know –how did you arrive to your interpretations, and disclose that in your writing.

Page 15: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

In the field...

Field Note-Taking: a central component of ethnographic research. Must provide detailed accounts of observation of behaviour, conversations. You do this at various points throughout:

Cryptic Notes: brief notes, statements, sketches. Detailed Notes: right after your observation. Analytic Notes: your own ideas, comments, application of

theories to what you observed. Self-reflective notes. Next, you analyse by CODING. Each fieldwork is

separately coded. You extract themes, issues, topics you have “uncovered”. Then, you look at recurrent patterns in themes.

Page 16: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Initial analysis of field notes

Typologies- classify similar events, actions, and people into discrete groupings, by how they share similar “culture” in setting.

McSkimming & Berg’s example of tavern patrons who were divided into 4 typologies

So, after having spent time in the field, you look for patterns, similarities, and divide them into groupings that are exhaustive, mutually exclusive and have a significant meaning for differentiation.

Can go back into the field and use your typology for further observation

Page 17: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Recording observations

Field journal To record empirical data To record interpretations

Guidelines for note taking Don't trust your memory Take notes in stages Record everything

Page 18: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Organizing and Writing Notes Make simple jotted notes at time of

observation

Rewrite your notes in full as soon as possible after making observations

Best to do this on computer, using word processor

Page 19: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Notes (cont.) Creating files helps organize field notes for analysis.

a. Chronological file as a master file. b. Background files (from literature review, and

documentation of topic's history.) c. Biographical files on key subjects in the study. d. Bibliographical files of all references related to study. e. Analytical files to categorize what you are observing. f. Cross-reference files may be useful to retrieve data.

Page 20: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Using computers in field research

some software programs (i.e. NVivo) are now available for field research notes

Can save time, especially when analyzing data

But can use Word, Word Perfect too

Page 21: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Advantages of field research

High external validity

Can study nonverbal behaviour

Flexibility

Natural environment

Longitudinal analysis

Relatively inexpensive

Page 22: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Disadvantages of field research Time consuming Not applicable to the investigation of large social

settings Low internal validity (lack of control) Biases, attitudes, and assumptions of the

researcher can be problem Selective perception and memory Selectivity in data collection Presence of the researcher may change the system

or group being studied Virtually impossible to replicate the findings

Page 23: Soc 3322a Ethnographic Studies and Other Types of Field Research

Now, an exercise for you

Conduct a brief ethnographic study : spend about 10 minutes in the “Living Room” at Brescia. Develop rough field notes and create a typology of the people and actions observed while in the field.

Be prepared to share with the class ( I will call on a few of you) your typology and discuss what you observed.