Ethnographic Methods

Learning Objectives 1. Identify major ethnographic techniques & what type of information is gained from each technique. 2. Describe ethnographic techniques by identifying specific anthropological examples. 3. Summarize the methods used by anthropologists to study human populations. 4. Identify the anthropological sub-discipline that most commonly employs ethnographic methods.

Outline of lecture Review of Scientific Method Ethnography Techniques Survey Research Ethical Issues

Scientific method Four basic steps: Ask a question what this question be based off of? Formulate a hypothesis Test the hypothesis Come to a conclusion – accept or reject the hypothesis Accept hypothesis = theory

Fieldwork The collection of data ___ ________________________ _____________________ Ethnographic process - fieldwork

Types of fieldwork Single-Sited Fieldwork __________________ Multi-sited Fieldwork ______________________ ____________________ Movement between _____ Tracing a _____________ ____________________________________

El Barrio Anthropologist: Philippe Bourgois Award-winning ethno-graphic account of selling crack in El Barrio Spanish Harlem – 1995: Single-sited: ___________________ Multi-sited: ______________________ ________________________________

Participant Observation _________________________ ________________________ Basic research method Live in the same housing Eat the same food Wear similar clothing Learn the language Regular activities AND special events ‘Walk the walk, talk the talk’

Participant Observation Best way to ___________________________ ____________________________ Allows for mental, emotional and physical contact with the individuals

Participant Observation Benefits 1. 2. The Hawthorne effect:

Observation Look at everything: Housing, interactions, leaders, work, organization, activities… Holism Obtain data – how is this done?

Interviews Interviews 1. 2. What information can be gained from these types of interviews?

Dialectic of fieldwork Process of building a bridge of understanding Between anthropologist & informants Why is this important for successful fieldwork? Example: Komachi, nomadic people in Iran __________________ And

Different types of data Qualitative 1. 2. Quantitative 1. 2.

Risks associated with fieldwork Social violence Disease Culture shock _________________________________ _________________________________ Unlikable subjects

Ethics and Responsibility in Cultural Anthropology Why did it come about? Dangers for the subjects AAA standard code of ethics ________________________ ____________________