Ethnographic research consist of the following key features:
1.Subjects are researched in a naturalsetting, rather than a laboratory
2.The research demands close, face toface interaction within the researcher and the participants.
3.Produces an accurate reflection ofperspectives and behaviours
4.Ethnography consists of inductive,interactive and repeated collection of unstructured data and analysis to buildlocal cultural theories.
5.Data are mostly collected fromfieldwork experiences
6.It uses multiple methods of datacollection like interview, observation, reviewing artefacts and visualmaterials
7.The research frames all humanbehaviour and belief within a socio-political and historical context.
8.Culture is used as a lens tointerpret results
9.Emphasizes on exploration of thenature of particular social phenomena.
10.It investigates a small amount ofcases, usually one case but in detail.
11.Data analysis process involvesexplicit interpretation of the meaning and functions of human actions.Interpretations happen within the context or group and are presented in thedescription of themes.
12.Researchers ought to be reflective about theirimpact on the site and the cultural group.
13.Offers interpretations of people’sactions and behaviours that should be unearthed through investigation of whatpeople do and their reasons behind doing it.
14.It also offers a representation of aperson’s life and behaviour that is neither the researcher’s nor the person’s.Rather, the representation is based upon points of understanding andmisunderstanding that occur between the researcher and the participant.
15.Ethnographic research cannot producean exclusive, absolute description of anything. Instead it provides partialdescriptions as necessitated by the time bound and specific circ*mstances.
Gay, L.R., Mills, G.E., & Airasian, P.W.(2011). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications(10th ed.). Boston: Pearson EducationInternational.
SonamNorbu
