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Chapter 15 Chapter 15

Ethnographic DesignsEthnographic Designs

EDUC 640 Dr. William M. BauerEDUC 640 Dr. William M. Bauer

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Key IdeasKey Ideas

• History of ethnographic research

• Types of ethnographic studies

• Key characteristics of ethnographic design

• Steps in conducting an ethnographic study

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A Brief History of Ethnographic A Brief History of Ethnographic ResearchResearch

• Ethnography has been shaped by cultural anthropology with an emphasis on writing about culture

• 1928 Mead study of childbearing, adolescence, and influence of culture on personality in Samoa

• 1920’s - 1950’s Single case emphasis at University of Chicago

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A Brief History of Ethnographic A Brief History of Ethnographic ResearchResearch

• 1980’s Educational Ethnographies• 1997 publication of Writing Culture that

highlighted two major issues– crisis of representation: how

ethnographers interpret the groups they are studying

– crisis of “legitimacy:”standards do not come from “normal science.” Studies must be evaluated by standards within the participants historical, cultural, influences and interactive forces of race, gender and class

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Types of Ethnographic Studies: Types of Ethnographic Studies: Realist EthnographiesRealist Ethnographies

• Narrates study from in person reporting what is observed

• Research reports objective data free from personal bias

• Researcher produces the participants’ views through closely edited quotes and has final word on interpretation

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Types of Ethnographic Studies: Types of Ethnographic Studies: Case StudiesCase Studies

• Case may be a single individual or several individuals

• A case may be a process

• A case may be selected because it’s unusual

• Researcher develops understanding of the case by collecting multiple forms of data

• Researcher locates the “case” or “cases” within their larger context

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Types of Qualitative Case Types of Qualitative Case StudiesStudies

Intrinsic Case Study

Unusual Case Study an intrinsic, unusual case.

Instrumental Case Study

Issue Case Study a case that provides insight into an issue or theme

Multiple Instrumental Case Study(also called a Collective Case Study

Case

Case

Case

Issue

Study several cases thatprovide insight into anissue (or theme)

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Characteristics of Critical Characteristics of Critical EthnographyEthnography

• Critical researchers are usually politically minded people

• Critical ethnographers speak to an audience on behalf of their participants as a means of empowering participants by giving them more authority

• Critical ethnographers seek to change society

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Characteristics of Critical Characteristics of Critical EthnographyEthnography

• Critical ethnographers identify and celebrate their biases in research. They recognize that all research is value laden

• Critical ethnographers challenge the status quo and ask why it is so

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Characteristics of Critical Characteristics of Critical EthnographyEthnography

• Critical researchers seek to connect the meaning of a situation to broader structures of social power and control

• Critical researchers seek to create a literal dialogue with the participants they are studying

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Key Characteristics of an Key Characteristics of an Ethnographic DesignEthnographic Design

• An exploration of cultural themes drawn from cultural anthropology

• A study of a culture-sharing group

• An examination of shared patterns of behavior, belief and language

• A collection of data through fieldwork experiences

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Key Characteristics of an Key Characteristics of an Ethnographic DesignEthnographic Design

• A description and analysis of themes about the culture-sharing group

• A presentation of description, themes, and interpretation within the context or setting of the group

• A reflexivity by the researcher about his or her impact on the research site and cultural group

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Steps in Conducting Steps in Conducting Ethnographic ResearchEthnographic Research

• Identify intent and type of design and relate intent to your research problem

• Discuss approval and access considerations

• Use appropriate data collection procedures

• Analyze and interpret data within a design

• Write report consistent with your design

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Criteria for Evaluating an Ethnographic Criteria for Evaluating an Ethnographic Design: Research EvaluationDesign: Research Evaluation

• Clearly identify culture-sharing group

• Identify the cultural patterns

• Describe the group or case in detail

• Identify the context of the group or case

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Criteria for Evaluating an Ethnographic Criteria for Evaluating an Ethnographic Design: Research EvaluationDesign: Research Evaluation

• Reflect on the researcher’s role

• Develop a broad interpretation of the patterns

• Have the interpretation flow from the description and themes

• Provide a sense of how the culture works

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Applying What you Have Applying What you Have Learned: Ethnographic DesignsLearned: Ethnographic Designs

Review the article and look for the following:

• The research problem and use of quantitative research

• Use of the literature• The purpose statement and research

hypothesis• Types and procedures of data collection• Types and procedures of data analysis and

interpretation• The overall report structure