BHV 390 Fieldwork & Interviews

Levels of Description Thin Description Is superficial information that has contains no explanations and little or no context. Vs Thick Description Is in depth information that tells not only what is present, but how and why it is there, what accompanies it, and what emotions and meanings are attached to it. (Clifford Geertz)

Thin description is usually associated with Surveys Experiments Quantitative research Thick description is usually associated with Fieldwork Qualitative research

Fieldwork Studying humans in their natural social and environmental contexts

Methods Used in Fieldwork  Observation  Participant observation  Interviewing Ethnographic Structured  Case Studies Clinical Biographical Ethnographic

Participant Observation Definition: Observing while participating in everyday activities in the group you are studying Participant Observation depends on: 1. Finding a role you can reasonably play 2. Obtaining permission to participate 3. Learning how to play the role

Ethnographic Interviewing  Viewing the interviewee as the expert on the topic – express your own ignorance  Using open-ended items/questions Frame elicitation questions  Showing eagerness to learn the point of view of the interviewee  Individuals who are interviewed on a regular basis are called Key Informants

Frame Elicitation Questions Definition: content free questions that encourage people to talk These questions are like picture frames; you can put anything into the blank spaces! Examples Descriptive question: Tell me about ____________? Structural question: What kinds of __________ are there? Contrast question: What’s the difference between_______ and _______?

Structured Interviewing  Knowing a lot about your topic before you start  Knowing exactly what information you want from each interviewee  Preparing questions ahead of time  Ordering questions so that all interviews are the same

Ethnography Definition: a detailed description of a single society’s culture Usually includes at least some of each: Fieldnotes Mapping Journaling Tape recording Genealogies Photography Interviewing Participating

Preparing for and Initiating Fieldwork 1.Read everything you can about the group 2.Learn as much of the language as you can 3.Locate a person or agency to introduce you to the group 4.Find a culturally appropriate role you can play in the group 5.Establish relationships with key informants 6.Deal with culture shock and ethnocentrism

Data Recording Techniques Field Notes Personal journaling Photography and videography Genealogies

Data Processing and Analysis Techniques Rewriting notes Content analysis of notes Creating an organizational structure using Typologies Paradigms and Taxonomies Computerization Textual analysis programs Data storage in spreadsheets

Taxonomies

Paradigms

Study Guide Thick Description Thin Description Fieldwork Participant Observation Observation Ethnographic Interviewing Structured Interviewing Ethnography Fieldnotes Journaling Photography Geneologies Rewrite notes Content analysis of notes Typologies Paradigms