Intro

Tom – Director of Mobilization for US Office Lisa – 6 th grade science/social studies teacher at a charter school

Intro Rachel – 18, beginning freshman year at Moody Bible Institute in fall; loves theater

Intro Maddy – 15, will be sophomore in high school, loves to run

Intro Caleb – 12, going into 7 th grade, loves playing soccer

What is Culture? Write a definition of culture at your table group. Culture and Ethnography

What is Culture? “The customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group.” Webster’s dictionary Culture and Ethnography

What is Culture? “the rules by which the game of life is played” Richard Lewis “ Culture and Ethnography

What is Culture? “Culture is the shared assumptions, values, and beliefs of a group of people by which they organize their common life.” Gary Wederspahn “ Culture and Ethnography

What is Culture? “a people’s way of life, their design for living, their way of coping with their biological, physical and social environment. It consists of learned, patterned assumptions (worldview), concepts and behavior, plus the resulting artifacts (material culture)” Charles H. Kraft Culture and Ethnography

Challenges to Learning About Cultures Culture and Ethnography

Challenges to Learning About Cultures  We tend to focus on the most obvious things. Culture and Ethnography

What do you see?

Which walker is the tallest?

Challenges to Learning About Cultures  We tend to focus on the most obvious things.  We tend to jump to conclusions, make quick interpretations for behavior, and make value judgments about behavior. Culture and Ethnography

Behavior is just the “tip of the iceberg” of culture

What is the relationship between the things that are below the surface and the things that are above the surface ?

Viewing culture as successive levels of understanding Lloyd Kwast

Taiwan Ghost Month Behavior (what is done) – burning paper money How does Kwast’s model work out in a culture?

Taiwan Ghost Month Behavior (what is done) – burning paper money Value (what is good or best) – protection for my family How does Kwast’s model work out in a culture?

Taiwan Ghost Month Behavior (what is done) – burning paper money Value (what is good or best) – protection for my family Belief ( what is true) – hungry ghosts will be appeased by the offerings and leave me alone. How does Kwast’s model work out in a culture?

Taiwan Ghost Month Behavior (what is done) – burning paper money Value (what is good or best) – protection for my family Belief ( what is true) – hungry ghosts will be appeased by the offerings and leave me alone. Worldview (what is real) – spirits all around that can curse and bless in physical world How does Kwast’s model work out in a culture?

Perceived elements of the culture: behaviors, rituals, language, dress, etc. Values Beliefs Worldview

What does this mean for us as we enter into another culture? Culture and Ethnography

What is Ethnography? Culture and Ethnography

What is Ethnography?  Ethnography is a form of research focused on the qualitative properties of observation. Culture and Ethnography

What is Ethnography?  Ethnography is a form of research focused on the qualitative properties of observation.  Subjective and less focused on numbers and statistics. Culture and Ethnography

What is Ethnography?  Ethnography is a form of research focused on the qualitative properties of observation.  Subjective and less focused on numbers and statistics.  Ethnographic studies focus on compiling data about human cultures and societies around the world. Culture and Ethnography

Types of Ethnography Culture and Ethnography

Types of Ethnography 1. Participant Observation Culture and Ethnography

Types of Ethnography 1. Participant Observation  Long-term engagement in the field setting or place where the ethnography takes place Culture and Ethnography

Types of Ethnography 1. Participant Observation  Long-term engagement in the field setting or place where the ethnography takes place  Participates in life of setting they are observing Culture and Ethnography

Types of Ethnography 1. Participant Observation  Long-term engagement in the field setting or place where the ethnography takes place  Participates in life of setting they are observing  Describes what they experience in a “detached” way Culture and Ethnography

Types of Ethnography 1. Participant Observation 2. Non-Participant Observation Culture and Ethnography

Types of Ethnography 1. Participant Observation 2. Non-Participant Observation  data is collected by observing behavior without interacting with the participants Culture and Ethnography

Types of Ethnography 1. Participant Observation 2. Non-Participant Observation  data is collected by observing behavior without interacting with the participants  researcher stays uninvolved and conducts research from an outside perspective Culture and Ethnography

Observation vs. Interpretation (Inference) Culture and Ethnography

Observation vs. Interpretation (Inference) Observation: using one or more of your five senses to know or determine something. Culture and Ethnography

Observation vs. Interpretation (Inference) Observation: using one or more of your five senses to know or determine something. Interpretation: making an explanation for the observation. Culture and Ethnography

Observe Write as many observable details as you can?

Interpret What do you think is happening in this photo?

Teachers’ frequent use of corporal punishment discourage students from actively participating in the classroom. Students are expected to sit rigidly in their seats and speak only when spoken to. Conditioned in this way, it’s not surprising they don’t feel free to speak out in the classroom; their shyness, however, should not be mistaken for a lack of interest.” Culture Matters – The Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook, p.8 Culture and Ethnography

Guidelines for Observation Culture and Ethnography

Guidelines for Observation  Take notes during the observation if you can. If this isn’t possible record observations as soon as you can. Culture and Ethnography

Guidelines for Observation  Take notes during the observation if you can. If this isn’t possible record observations as soon as you can.  Be detailed and specific. Culture and Ethnography

Guidelines for Observation  Take notes during the observation if you can. If this isn’t possible record observations as soon as you can.  Be detailed and specific.  Resist urge to interpret what you see at this point. Culture and Ethnography

Guidelines for Interpretation Culture and Ethnography

Guidelines for Interpretation  Interpretation involves finding patterns and lessons in what you observed. Culture and Ethnography

Guidelines for Interpretation  Interpretation involves finding patterns and lessons in what you observed.  Ask questions about your observations – as many as you can think of. Culture and Ethnography

Guidelines for Interpretation  Interpretation involves finding patterns and lessons in what you observed.  Ask questions about your observations – as many as you can think of.  The questions are endless! Culture and Ethnography

Questions to Ask How does the group use spoken language? How does the group use written language? Why does this group meet? What is their purpose? What does one get from being a member? What beliefs, values, or tastes does this group share? Do their specific actions demonstrate those beliefs, values or tastes? How does this group act towards each other? Do they treat each other differently than they would in other circumstances? How does this group see its place in the larger community? How do they define themselves in relation to other groups? Culture and Ethnography

Tools/Methods How to Map a People COATS Field notes Notecards Culture and Ethnography

Fast Food Society 4 Culture Game Muslim Community Visit Ethnic Church Visits Culture and Ethnography

Fast Food Society Culture and Ethnography