ETHNOGRAPHIC METHODS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Identify major ethnographic techniques & what type of information is gained from each technique. 2. Describe ethnographic techniques by identifying specific anthropological examples. 3. Summarize the methods used by anthropologists to study human populations. 4. Identify the anthropological sub-discipline that most commonly employs ethnographic methods.

OUTLINE OF LECTURE•Review of Scientific Method•Ethnography•Techniques•Survey Research•Ethical Issues

SCIENTIFIC METHOD Four basic steps:Ask a questionwhat this question be based off of?

Formulate a hypothesisTest the hypothesisCome to a conclusion – accept or reject the hypothesisAccept hypothesis = theory

FIELDWORK The collection of data ___ _____________________________________________

Ethnographic process - fieldwork

TYPES OF FIELDWORK Single-Sited Fieldwork•__________________

Multi-sited Fieldwork•______________________ ____________________•Movement between _____•Tracing a _____________

____________________________________

EL BARRIOANTHROPOLOGIST: PHILIPPE BOURGOIS

•Award-winning ethno-graphic account of selling crack in El Barrio

•Spanish Harlem – 1995:•Single-sited: ___________________•Multi-sited: ______________________ ________________________________

PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

__________________________________________________________________________

PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION•Best way to ___________________________

•____________________________

•Allows for mental, emotional and physical contact with the individuals

PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

Benefits1.2.

The Hawthorne effect: 1.

OBSERVATION Look at everything:•Housing, interactions, leaders, work, organization, activities…

•Holism

•Obtain data – how is this done?

INTERVIEWS Interviews1.2.

What information can be gained from these types of interviews?

DIALECTIC OF FIELDWORK•Process of building a bridge of understanding •Between anthropologist & informants

•Why is this important for successful fieldwork?

•Example: Komachi, nomadic people in Iran

•__________________And

•__________________

DIFFERENT TYPES OF DATA

Qualitative•1.

•2.

Quantitative•1.

•2.

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FIELDWORK

Social violence

Disease

Culture shock_________________________________ _________________________________

Unlikable subjects

ETHICS AND RESPONSIBILITY IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Why did it come about?

Dangers for the subjects

AAA standard code of ethics____________________________________________