Ethnographic Research CHAPTER7 Ethnographic Research

一、The Nature of Ethnography in Education The ethnographic research process can be described as : The process of providing holistic and scientific descriptions of educational system, processes, and phenomena within their specific contexts.

一、The Nature of Ethnography in Education The phenomenological nature of ethnographic research has certain implications for how research is conducted, and these can be listed as: As much as possible, a priori assumptions about the phenomenon under study are avoided. Reality is viewed holistically and complex phenomena are not reduced to a few variables.

一、The Nature of Ethnography in Education 3. Data collection procedures and instruments, although having some structure, should have minimum influence on the phenomena under study. 4. There is an openness to alternative explanations of the phenomenon, which may lead to alternative and changing concepts of reality. 5. Theory , as applicable, should emerge from the data as grounded theory rather than preconceived theories.

一、The Nature of Ethnography in Education Ethnographic research involves field research and requires contextualization---the interpretation of results in the context of the data collection.

一、The Nature of Ethnography in Education Ethnographic research takes a general and holistic perspective. Hypotheses are more likely to emerge from the data than to be formulated prior to the research.

二、A Conceptual Schema for Ethnographic research A study of life in an urban classroom. A study of decision making in an inner-city high school. A study of student life in law school. A study of student relations in an integrated school.

二、A Conceptual Schema for Ethnographic research 5. A study of peer interactions in racially mixed classrooms of a suburban high school. 6. A study of interaction patterns among faculty in a private prep school. 7. A study of instruction in writing in the elementary school. 8. A study of socialization within a rural high school.

… … … Perspective 1 Culture A Organization Perspective j Perspective k Culture B Perspective k … Perspective k’ Direction of Research Conceptual Schema of a General Context for Conducting Ethnographic Research

三、The Process of Ethnographic Research The process of ethnographic research is an integrated process in which procedures are conducted concurrently.

三、The Process of Ethnographic Research Identification of the phenomenon to be studied Identification of subjects Formulation of foreshadowed problems Hypothesis generation Data collection (observation, interviewing, Reviewing other sources, triangulation) Analysis Drawing conclusions

四、The Reliability and validity of Ethnographic Research Reliability is concerned with replicability of both procedures and findings. Validity refers to the interpretation and generalizability of results.

四、The Reliability and validity of Ethnographic Research The use of multiple data-collection procedures, along with triangulation, tends to enhance internal reliability. The extensive description used in ethnographic research is a plus in terms of internal reliability; if there seems to be a lack of observer agreement, the sources of disagreement can be identified from the description. External reliability is a matter of degree. Because ethnographic procedures are varied and are applied with varying degrees of sophistication.

四、The Reliability and validity of Ethnographic Research Ethnographic research studies typically cover relatively long time periods, which increase the possibility of extraneous effect. However , longevity in the research context does enhance the search for causes and effects. External validity in ethnographic research is general-type generalization based on assertoric argumentation. External validity of ethnographic research typically is argued on the basis of a posteriori judgment.

五、The Role of Ethnographic Research Ethnographic research makes contributions to education through empirical description of phenomena, the development of grounded theory, and theory testing. Ethnographic research focuses on how things are and how they got that way.

Exercises To locate an ethnographic study from a professional journal. Review the article carefully, identifying the research problem and the hypotheses.

References Bogdan R.C., and Biklen, S.K. (2003). Qualitative research in education (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Cochran-Smith, M., and Lytle, S.L. (1990). Research on teaching and teacher research: The issues that divide. Educational Researcher,19(2),2-11.