Ethnographic research can be described as qualitative research that uses observation of variables in their natural environment or habitats to produce objective research results. Ethnographic research is a qualitative approach to research that focuses on the study of human cultures, habits, and mutual differences.
This type if systematic investigation is in constant contact with the variables. It almost exclusively depends on data collected from the research variables. Ethnographic studies are sometimes called thick descriptions because they involve in-depth observations and descriptions of the subjects.
Recent developments have seen netnography, an internet version of ethnography. This allows researchers to examine the interaction of online communities and determine patterns in social communication.
What’s Netnography?
Netnography is an online ethnography study, or simply, the practice of conducting ethnography through the internet. Netnography uses the ethnographic research method to study online communities and discover the natural behaviors of internet users.
Netnography, a digital model of ethnographic research, uses data from various online communities to analyze and trace patterns of social interaction. To arrive at objective conclusions, netnography is similar to ethnography research.
Types Of Ethnographic Research
There are many types of ethnographic studies, including educational, medical, and business. Each is unique and focuses on different areas of human endeavor. Ethnographic research can be applied to many fields, including medicine, education, psychology, and business.
Researching the business environment through an ethnographic approach.
Business ethnographics is a form of research that involves looking at consumer behavior and targeting markets to find out what the market wants and how they will react to your product. This is a very useful research tool that will help you identify your customers and meet market needs.
This research method includes a mix of online and offline surveys as well as fieldwork. The goal is to get useful data about consumer preferences in target markets. These methods are used by business ethnographers in order to understand how clients interact and draw valuable conclusions to help them develop market strategies.
A business ethnographic study must be conducted with a customer-oriented framework. It should not only focus on the business but also include clients. This research design seeks to identify recurring client behaviors that could be used as key insights into the market.
Researcher must ask the right kinds of questions to get useful data. Here are some question examples for business ethnographic studies:
– What are you most impressed by this product?
– Why are you using this product?
– What product meets your needs?
– What are the specific requirements that the product fails to fulfill?
– Is the product’s cost equal in value?
2. Educational Ethnographic Research
Educational ethnographic research is a type of research that examines the effects of learning and teaching methods on classroom behavior. This research model examines pedagogy, how it affects learning outcomes, and the engagement of all stakeholders in the classroom.
Educational ethnographic studies typically focus on students’ attitudes and academic motivations. The researcher uses both participant and non-participant observation methods to obtain the most accurate and objective data.
Educational ethnography research requires the following question samples:
Do you like this method of teaching?
– Is feedback allowed in the classroom by the teacher?
– Does your teaching method clearly communicate your objectives?
– What attitude does the student have towards learning?
3. Medical Ethnographic Research
Medical ethnographic research can be used to conduct qualitative research in healthcare. This research design aids medical practitioners in understanding the dispositions and patterns of patients.
The healthcare provider can access a wealth information to improve the patient’s experience.
An ethnographic study can help a manufacturer of healthcare products understand the needs and influence product design.
Additionally, medical ethnographics gives healthcare professionals insight into complex patient needs, their reactions to treatments and prescriptions, and makes recommendations for improvement. Here are some questions you could use to conduct medical ethnographic studies:
– How many years have you been taking this drug?
– How many years have you been using this treatment?
– What positive change have you seen so far in your life?
– Are you aware of any side effects?
– Is this medication/treatment appropriate?
Ethnographic research is a method of studying people and cultures.
In general, ethnographic research can be done using five methods: participant observation and naturalism. The field of ethnographic research and the nature of the research will determine which research technique is used.
Live and Work
Naturalism is another name for ethnography. Live and Work allows researchers to observe and record the behavior of research variables in their natural environments. This may include living in the natural environment for a time to record the activities of the individuals or groups being studied.
Naturalism is one of the oldest methods of ethnographic investigation. It may establish some level of rapport between an ethnographer’s research variables and the ethnographer. To achieve objective research results, it is important that the researcher uses this method with caution.
Naturalistic observation is possible to disguise or be undisguised. Disguised naturalistic observer is when subjects are recorded in a way they do not know they are being studied. Undisguised naturalistic observer, on the other hand, records subjects in a manner that makes them aware they are being observed.
The live-and-work method is a way for researchers to get the most relevant and accurate data from subjects by watching them in their natural surroundings. Modern ethnographers do not like this method, particularly in education and medicine.
– Participant observation
Participant observation is an ethnographic research method that collects data through active participation. This is very similar in concept to how we work.
The difference between participant observations and live and nature is that the ethnographer takes part in the observation of the group. This allows the researcher to access information that is only available to the group members.
There are two types, undisguised or disguised participant observation. The ethnographer pretends that he or she is part of the research subjects, while concealing his or her real identity as a researcher.
Undisguised participant surveillance allows the ethnographer become part of the group and to reveal his orher identity to the group. This method is more vulnerable to reactivity than disguised participants observation.
Participant observation has the advantage that it allows ethnographers to get more information. The ethnographer is better equipped to comprehend the habits and experiences of the participants from their point of view.
This research method has its limitations. First, researchers can influence the behavior of research subjects.
Biased research outcomes can also be a problem. Ethnographers can become less objective due to their relationship with the group. This can cause experimental bias, which can adversely affect research outcomes.
– Talk
An ethnographic interview combines qualitative observation and one-on-one conversations to create authentic research results. This research design involves the ethnographer talking with members of a research group about various activities.
The researcher collects data relevant to the behaviors and goals of the members of research group during this context inquiry.
Ethnographers can ask questions about research subjects as they observe them in their natural environments.
Ethnographic interviews are usually informal and spontaneous. They typically result from the relationship between subjects and researcher. The ethnographic interview is often conducted using the participant observation technique, which allows the ethnographer to engage with members of a research group to learn more about them.
An ethnographic interview can be used as a method to obtain authentic information from both the subject and researcher. But, experimental bias can affect it due to the relationship between ethnographer/subjects.
– Polls
An ethnography survey uses inductive research methods to collect information about the subject. Analytic Induction is another name for this type of research design. It involves defining hypotheses and then administering them in the research environment.
An ethnographer can administer a survey to gather data, analyze the data and reach objective conclusions. Analytic induction aims to uncover the cause of certain behavior patterns and give precise explanations.
To get the best responses, you should include multiple question types in your survey. Ethnography survey questions can be categorized as open-ended questions (likert scale), multiple-choice questions (multiple-choice) and closed-ended questions.
Formplus is a data-collection tool that makes it easy to administer and create ethnography surveys online. Formplus lets you create an ethnography survey in just minutes.
This research method has some limitations, such as high survey drop-out rates or survey response bias. The method can provide useful insight into a group of people if done well and is quick and inexpensive, especially online.
– Investigating historical documents
Archival research is qualitative ethnographic research that focuses on the analysis of existing research and documents to uncover relevant information. This is also known as understanding.
Archival research is ethnography. It uses related documents from history to replace actual physical presence in research environments. It is meticulous about every detail of the research variables.
Archival research is a method for collecting ethnographic data. The researcher doesn’t interact directly with the subjects, which reduces the chance of biases. Archival research also gives the ethnographer access to more data that can be used to make better findings.
Archival research can sometimes be subject to randomization so the findings might not reflect the actual research group. Archival data can also be biased, so the results of research may not be completely accurate.
Ethnography Research: When is it Best?
In the initial stages of systematic user-focused investigations, ethnography research should be used. Because ethnography research can help you gather valuable information about the dispositions and goals of research variables in particular contexts.
Ethnography research can be used to conduct complex research in markets or customer settings. Ethnography is a method that allows companies to gain insight into the consumer behavior and get feedback from customers about the quality of their product or service.
This research design can also be used to examine social interactions and behaviors. This research design is very beneficial when it comes to studying employees’ attitudes towards organizational policies and culture.
Ethnographic research is a great way to help businesses find new products and improve consumer experience. But there are situations when it can prove counterproductive. Ethnographic research shouldn’t be used in any process that requires statistically valid analysis, test runs or group comparisons.
Ethnographic Research’s Advantages
Ethnographic data allows for a greater range of data and accuracy than other research types. The ethnographer will have more information to use in qualitative research.
– Ethnography is a method of ethnography that allows researchers to observe the natural worlds of the variables.
Ethnography is a method of studying complex group behaviors and highlighting interrelationships among variables.
It assists researchers in understanding the context, reason(s), or scope of research variables.
The Disadvantages Of Ethnographic Research
Ethnographic research is difficult and requires expert knowledge. To arrive at convincing findings, it takes time to observe variables.
– Ethnographic studies are capital-intensive as well.
– The researcher and subjects may have experimental biases.
Ethnographic research may also be affected by the size of the sample. Because small samples of data can make false assumptions about the dispositions of research groups, while large amounts of data might not be processed efficiently.
Risks associated with ethnographic research
Ethnographic research is more frequent than other methods of research and can last for long periods. While respondents have the right to withdraw from the research at any time, there are some risks that they might face during it.
1. Psychological risks
Participants may experience emotional triggers, such as guilt, fear or sadness. This can lead to them losing interest in the research and may decide to quit. Research participants might need to be reassured in order to keep going.
2. Social risks
Ethnographic research can present social risks depending on the subject. These risks include stigmatization, condemnation and friction in interpersonal relationships. This could also lead to psychological risks.
3. Both economic and physical risks
These risks are very rare in ethnographic studies, but it is crucial that you plan for them. The risks of physical injury are higher in politically volatile communities and research that requires repetitive physical activity.
Economic risks may arise when researchers are not allowed to do their profitable ventures.
Make sure you communicate the potential risks to your participants in your study and explain how you plan to reduce them.
FAQ’s regarding Ethnographic Studies
Ethnographic research – Is it done after or before a survey
To validate or improve clarity, most research relies on data from different studies. Research is usually conducted following large-scale surveys or quantitative segmentation studies. It all depends on the research goal.
– Is ethnographic research qualitative or quantitative?
Ethnographic Research is qualitative research that involves the study of respondents in their personal environment.
What is the average time it takes to conduct ethnographic research?
The scope of the ethnographic research you are doing will affect how long it takes. They can last up to a few months.
– Are ethnographers allowed to use field guides?
Yes. Yes. Field guides are used to guide ethnographic research. But, they are just tools and it is not always used exactly as it should.
How can I make a database to do comparative analysis during Ethnographic research?
The Formplus PDF Builder allows you to compile data and create PDFs from your analysis. You can also create forms for documentation.
Finally, it can be concluded that…
Ethnographic studies can be used by individuals or organizations to gain valuable insight into the user’s behavior as it is influenced and influenced in their environment. This type of systematic research bridges the gap between ethnographers and the variables, as the researcher can participate in their experiences.
