What is ethnography?

Introduction

Ethnography is a qualitative research methodology that involves the systematic study of people and cultures through direct observation, participation, and immersion in the natural environment of the subjects. It aims to understand the social dynamics, cultural practices, and meanings from the perspective of the participants.

Key Insights

Definition and Methodology:
- Ethnography involves sustained, methodical observation and paraphrasing of social situations in their natural settings to explore subjective meanings and their impact on organizational and institutional dynamics .
- It is rooted in firsthand experience and committed to interpreting the point of view of those under study .
Applications and Contributions:
- Ethnography is used to inform public management, nutrition and dietetics, and primary care research by providing insights into sociocultural factors, practitioner training, and policy development .
- It helps in understanding complex social dynamics, cultural practices, and health-related behaviors, thereby informing more effective intervention designs and policy decisions .
Challenges and Criticisms:
- Ethnography faces criticism for being unscientific, limited in generalizability, and for its representational practices. However, it offers unique insights that quantitative methods cannot provide .
- The term "ethnography" has become overused, potentially undermining its ontological commitment and educational purpose within anthropology.
Educational and Practical Value:
- Ethnographic methods can promote cultural awareness and deeper understanding of social interactions, making it a valuable tool in educational settings and for cognitive and social development.
- It is a disciplined method for understanding human conduct and is a valid alternative to quantitative methods in various research fields.

Conclusion

Ethnography is a powerful qualitative research methodology that provides deep insights into social and cultural dynamics through direct observation and participation. Despite facing some criticisms, its ability to capture the subjective experiences and meanings of participants makes it invaluable in fields such as public management, nutrition, and primary care. Ethnography's educational and practical applications further highlight its significance in promoting cultural awareness and informing effective policy and intervention strategies.

What is ethnography?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Ethnography in Public Management Research: A Systematic Review and Future Directions

Ethnography in public management research has evolved over 25 years, providing valuable insights into organizational dynamics and influencing evidence-based managerial and policy decisions.

That’s enough about ethnography!

Ethnography has lost its meaning and undermines anthropology's educational purpose, and reaffirming its value as a forward-moving discipline can regain its public voice.

Ethnography as Work: Some Rules of Engagement

Ethnography involves fieldwork, headwork, and textwork, with distinct rules for each task, and differs from other social research methods in its focus on native perspectives and peripheral positions.

Ethnography in Nutrition and Dietetics Research: A Systematic Review.

Ethnography is a valuable research approach in nutrition and dietetics, enhancing understanding of complex health issues and guiding policy and intervention design.

Promoting Cultural Awareness Through Ethnography

Ethnography can promote cultural awareness and understanding in students, enhancing their cognitive and social development.

Qualitative methods in aphasia research: ethnography

Ethnography is a qualitative method that allows for the study of social dynamics and cultural meanings in aphasia research, offering potential for informing clinical aphasiology.

For ethnography

Ethnography provides valuable insights into social processes and landscape construction, despite criticisms that it is unscientific, limited, and unrepresentative.

Handbook of Ethnography

Ethnography is rooted in firsthand experience and committed to interpreting the point of view of those under study, with its enduring value grounded in its attention to the singular and concrete.

Ethnography as Translation

Ethnography serves as a form of translation, offering unique insights and challenges while offering insights unavailable through quantitative or survey research.

Ethnography: a stepwise approach for primary care researchers.

Ethnography is a valid alternative to quantitative methods for primary care researchers, providing a deeper understanding of human conduct through observational methods.

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