Ethnographic research methodology (ss)

Ethnographic research is one of the many crucial research methodologies in educational research. This well-researched ppt gives a clear picture of the what, how, and why of the research design.

1. Ethnographic Research Methodology Patteri Divya For, MED900 Educational Inquiry National Institute of Education, Singapore

2. https://www.ucl.ac.uk

3. WHAT IS ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH? Ethnography is a study through direct observation of users in their natural environment rather than in a lab. It is a qualitative research design originated from the academic disciplines of sociology and anthropology. When simply asked questions the participants tend to leave so many things out distorting the truth, hence behaviours of these participants are more authentic in their natural setting. Creswell (1998) explained that the ethnography study looks at people in interaction in ordinary settings and attempts to discern pervasive patterns such as life cycle, events, and cultural themes .

4. PROCESS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH Identify the purpose of the research study and frame it as a larger theoretical, policy, or practical problem. Decide on the site and the sample for the study, secures permissions and negotiate entry, and only then begin data collection. Following analysis of the data, the researcher writes an ethnographic account , which is usually a narrative that captures the social, cultural, and economic themes that emerge from the study.

5. KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH Carried out in a natural setting Accurate reflection of participants’ perspectives Uses the concept of culture as a lens to interpret results Investigates a small number of cases, in detail Offers a representation of a person’s life and behavior that is neither the researcher’s nor the person’s. Ethnographic descriptions are necessarily partial as they are bound by what can be handled within a certain time, under specific circumstances, and from a particular perspective.

6. TYPES OF ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH CRITICAL REALIST CASE STUDY

7. Critical ethnography Critical ethnography is conventional ethnography with a political purpose. — Jim Thomas, Doing Critical Ethnography (1993) 2 Researcher advocates the emancipation of groups marginalized in our society including schools. (Creswell, 2012) 1 For example: Privileges to certain types of students, create inequitable situations among members of different social classes, and perpetuate boys “speaking up” and girls being silent participants in class. The major components of a critical ethnography are factors such as a value-laden orientation , empowering people by giving them more authority, challenging the status quo, and a concern about power and control . (Madison, 2005 ) 3 TYPES OF ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH CRITICAL REALIST CASE STUDY 1 J. W. Creswell, 2012 Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research 4th ed., p. 467, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/ Prentice Hall. 2 Thomas, J. (1993). Doing critical ethnography (1st ed.). Newbury Park, Calif.: Sage. 3 Madison, D. (2005). Critical ethnography (1st ed.). California: SAGE Publishing.

8. Realist Ethnography A third-person’s point of view Researcher uses cultural description, analysis, and interpretation; such categories include work life and social networks. Reports objective data in a measured style uncontaminated by personal bias, political goals, and judgment. Mundane details of everyday life among the people studied. Uses standard categories for cultural description (e.g., family life, work life, social networks, and status systems). Produces the participants’ views through closely edited quotations , who has the final word on the interpretation and presentation of the culture (Van Maanen, 1988) 1 . 1 Van Maanen, J. (1988). Tales of the field (1st ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. TYPES OF ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH CRITICAL REALIST CASE STUDY

9. Case Study An important type of ethnography, although it differs from an ethnography in several important ways. The focus is on developing an in-depth understanding of a case, such as an event, activity, or process. Case study researchers may focus on a program, event, or activity involving individuals rather than a group per se (Stake, 1995) 1 . Also, when case study writers research a group, they may be more interested in describing the activities and searches for the shared patterns that develop as a group interacts over time . Less likely to identify a cultural theme to examine at the beginning of a study, especially one from anthropology; instead, they focus on an in-depth exploration of the actual “case” (Yin, 2008) 2 . 1 Stake, R. (1995). The Art of Case Study Research (1st ed.). California: Sage Publications. 2 Yin, R. (2008). Case study research (1st ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE. TYPES OF ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH CRITICAL REALIST CASE STUDY

10. ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH TECHNIQUES Triangulation 2. Participant Observation https://www.firstdiscoverers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/participant-observation.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Conceptual_diagram_of_political_triangulation.png/300px-Conceptual_diagram_of_political_triangulation.png

11. TRIANGULATION How does a sextant measure the distance? Navigators use on ship and land Measure by looking at the sun and looking at the horizon, and maybe by looking at at least three stars. https://classic-sailing.co.uk

12. TRIANGULATION CONTD... Triangulation in Navigation Images from University of Amsterdam by Coursera Satellites help know your location. You can be possibly located anywhere within the shown distances With the help of two satellites your location can be narrowed down to two possibilities But if we have three points of references by three different satellites, your location can be pinpointed!

13. Triangulation in Qualitative Research? TRIANGULATION CONTD...

14. Coined by Norman Denzin in the 1970s Types of Triangulation by: data collection theories researchers/coders/observers Observation, Interviews, Surveys or Artefacts Building theories and testing them one by one Different set of observers and coders TRIANGULATION CONTD...

15. Active Participant Observer Researchers often negotiate roles as teacher’s aides, student teachers, or even substitute teachers to gain access to schools and classrooms or research setting. May become so fully immersed in teaching that they don’t record their observations in a systematic way during the school day. http://supportingtheshift.weebly.com PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

16. PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION CONTD... 2) Privileged, Active Observer The researcher can work as a teacher’s aide and at the same time can withdraw , stand back, and watch what is happening during a teaching episode. (Mills & Gay, 2012) The ethnographer can move in and out of the role of teacher’s aide and observer. 3) Passive Observer Spends time in the setting as a passive observer only or may enter the setting as a privileged, active observer. On occasion, may choose to act as a passive observer by making explicit to the students and teaching colleagues that the “visitor” is present only to “see what’s going on around here.” (Mills & Gay, 2012) Mills, G., & Gay, L. (2012). Educational research (10th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson.

17. In Ethnographic Research ethical issues in ethnography relate to fieldwork concerns. These issues involve such topics as gaining access to the field, staying in the field, gathering data in the field, and the interactions of being in the field of research. POTENTIAL ETHICAL ISSUES

18. Field notes are gathered, recorded, and compiled on-site during the course of a study. Depending on the setting you are researching and the degree of participation you are engaged in, the detail you record in your field notes will vary considerably.  Even the jottings can be a crucial aid in reconstructing and writing up your observations.  Researchers must not forget to organize the notes in chronological order everyday. https://images.amcnetworks.com/blogs.amctv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/better-call-saul-episode-106-abassis-notebook-1200.jpg Ethnographic Account : FIELD NOTES

19. BEFORE SIGNING OFF... Ethnographic researchers try to look with new eyes and approach the scene as an outsider. They also look for contradictions or paradoxes that stand out and needs to be addressed.