Ethnography

The readings this week examined ethnography and participant observation. I found that all the readings were informative about ethnography, (interviews and focus groups, in the case of the Luker chapter), and each one served as a different lens from which to learn about how to do ethnographic studies. It would certainly be interesting to undertake an ethnographic study, but as was demonstrated in the readings, there are a number of conditions to consider. What resonated with me was the importance of building trust with the individuals one is observing. Without trust, it would be hard for individuals to feel comfortable being observed and questioned by a researcher, and could prove challenging to act naturally in their setting. This could, therefore, result in a research outcome not entirely truthful to the individuals being studied.

Both Luker and Stebbins discuss the two ends of the continuum from the perspective of a researcher in an ethnographic study: a participant-as-observer-as member and the participant as-observer-as nonmember. For the former, the kinds of rules a member would not notice and include their research study may provide insights into the group that can explain certain aspects of the group's culture. Another challenge posed with being a member of a group one is studying is that it can be challenging to distance oneself from the group in order to conduct the research. However, on the other end of the continuum, a participant as-observer-as nonmember has to gain entry into the group. Everything in the studied society is new and exciting, and it could prove to be hard to ascertain what is important to note and question. After reading about the advantages and challenges from each of these perspectives, I suspect that it would be more challenging to complete a study as a participant-as-observer-as member because I would find it very hard to be attuned to not overlooking nuances and taken for granted rules that an outside observer would notice and think to ask questions to individuals being observed.