ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH METHODS IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION

M1622- Bilingual Programmes, Policy and Practice – Prof. Isadora Norman

QUALITATIVE VS QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Quantitative Objective Easily measurable Large data sets Researcher removed from the data

Qualitative Objective (but acknowledges the inhernet subjectivity of the

researcher) Difficult to quantify Reduced, detailed, in-depth data sets Researcher part of the data

KINDS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Case StudiesComparative Studies (Contrasting various case studies)

SnapshotsLongitudinal StudiesEthnographies

WHAT IS ETHNOGRAPHY?

Developed in the field of anthropology to study other cultures

Qualitative research methodParticipant observationLong-termThe researcher becomes a part of the the research

WHAT IS THE ETHNOGRAPHY OF EDUCATION?

Research in ActionField work Teachers studying their own environment

METHODS IN QUALITATIVE AND ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH

Participant observationInterviews and ConversationsField Notes or DiariesQuestionnairesFirst-hand accounts

METHODS IN QUALITATIVE AND ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH

Participant observationInterviews and ConversationsField Notes or DiariesQuestionnairesFirst-hand accounts

PLANNING QUALITATIVE AND ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH

Stage 1: Locating a Field of Study

Stage 2: Formulating

Research Questions

Stage 3: Addressing

Ethical Issues

Stage 4: Deciding the

Sampling

Stage 5:Finding a role and managing entry into the

context

Stage 6:Finding

informants

Stage 7:Developing and

maintaining relations in the

field

Stage 8: Data collection in

situ

Stage 9:Data collection outside the field

Stage 10: Data analysis

Stage 11:Leaving the field

Stage 12:Writing the

Report

Source: Cohen et al (2011) Research Methods in Education

PROBLEMS WITH QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Subjectivity – informants and researchers

Reactivity – changes in behaviour due to the presence of an “outsider”

Focus on the familiar – ethnographers must make the familiar strange

Tunnel vision – neglecting wider social contexts or causes

Generalizability – can the study be repeated elsewhere?

Ownership – researcher? Informants? Researcher’s institution?

ACTIVITY 1: DOING OBSERVATION

Expert classmates share what they have learned about observationLook at some observation worksheetsObserve a small segment of a Bilingual ClassDevelop an observation tool for our activity

ACTIVITY 2: DOING INTERVIEWS

Expert classmates share what they have learned about interviews

Look at a sample interview questionnaireDecide what content to include in the reportDevelop interviews for the following members of the school community: Administration Bilingual staff (English specialists and Non-linguistic CLIL teachers)

Conversation Assistant