1. Defined as: “Learning from People” By Spradley
Ethnography Research
Defined as:
“Learning from People”
By Spradley

2. Four Types of Ethnography
Classical
Years in the field, constantly observing and making sense of actions. Includes description and behavior. Attempts to describe everything bout the culture.
Systematic
Defines the structure of a culture.
Interpretive (hermeneutic)
To study the culture through inference and analysis looking for “why” behaviors exist.
Critical
Relies on critical theory. Power differentials, who gains and who loses, what supports the status quo.

3. Historical Roots Early 1900s had several introductions
Herodotus wrote about travel in Persia
Malinowski’s Study of Trobriand Islanders
Hans Stade wrote about his being in captivity by the wild tribes of Eastern Brazil
The School of Sociology in Chicago, where the city was a laboratory from all the immigrants (dancers, muggers, case studies)

4. Fundamental Constructs
Is usually “etic” on the outside like a camera
Researcher is the instrument
Fieldwork is where the work occurs
Focus is on culture
Involves cultural immersion
There is a tension and reflexivity between the researcher as a member or researcher as researcher

5. Stages of Ethnography
Participant observation (gain access, rapport, trust)
Descriptive observation (9) (space, actors, activities, objects, act, event, time, goal, and feelings)
Ethnographic record (field notes, verbatim, old records, amalgamate the information)
Domain analysis
Focused observation (what is now critical)

6. Stages in Ethnography-2
Taxonomic analyzing (categorize)
Componential analysis (components of the selected areas)
Discover cultural themes
Take a cultural inventory
Write up the ethnography

7. Rigors for Ethnography
Plausibility
It is very easy to accept as truth
Credibility
Not exactly self evident, so you look at sources of evidence
Thick Description
Writing in such detail as to know exactly what is going on.

8. Sources of Errors Personal reactivity False inferences
Gaps in writing, remembering, and interpreting

9. Observation Methods Emic Etic
From within the research itself as a member or participant of some type.
Etic
From the outside looking in like a camera. It can be a peripheral issue or external observer member.