ETHNOGRAPHY: DEFINITION, CHARACTERISTICS, DESIGN, METHOD - SCIENCE - 2025

The ethnography, ethnographic research or science of the people is considered a method of social research that originated in the seventies. It has its origin in countries such as Great Britain, the United States and Australia, to improve the quality of education and solve problems at the pedagogical level.

Research has spanned several areas in recent decades. Undoubtedly, the study of peoples and their behavior is something that has captured the attention of professionals in order to better understand issues in the sociocultural field.

Grouping of the races and characteristic clothing of the world. Himely; AM Perrot.

At times, ethnography has been criticized because some consider that its conclusions are the product of subjectivities and interpretations of the researcher, since its variables are qualitative instead of quantitative.

However, others think that the study of peoples is essential to understand the processes and movements within society, which is the basis for social analysis.

Definitions according to various authors

The word ethnography comes from the Greek. The word ethnos means "tribe" or "people," and the term grapho symbolizes "I write." So its translation is "I write about the tribe" or "description of the peoples."

Arnal, Del Rincón and Latorre

According to Arnal, Del Rincón and Latorre, “ethnographic research is the most popular method to analyze and emphasize the descriptive and interpretive questions of a specific sociocultural environment. It has been widely used in the studies of social anthropology and education, so much so that it can be considered as one of the most relevant research methods in humanistic-interpretive research ”.

Rodriguez Gomez

According to Rodríguez Gómez, it is the "research method by which the way of life of a specific social unit is learned, which may be a family, a class, a teaching staff or a school."

Giddens' concept of ethnography goes further into the development of this science, since he states that it is "the direct study of people and groups during a certain period, using participant observation or interviews to know their social behavior."

Woods

In a simpler and more precise definition, Woods defines it as "the description of the way of life of a group of individuals."

Although there are different statements, they all have one point in common: the object of study is the man, his conduct and behavior as a member of a society.

Main characteristics of ethnography

According to Del Rincón, the characteristics of ethnography as a form of social research are:

Phenomenological or emic character

It consists of interpreting social phenomena from a perspective “from within” of the participants of that group of people. This allows the researcher to have a vision of what social life is like.

Through description and interpretation, the professional can know the social phenomena seen as a member of this society. The term emic refers to the differences within the same culture.

Relatively persistent permanence

The professional must get involved in the group to study to gain acceptance and trust. This will allow a connection to be created between the researcher and the members of society, a relationship that will make him know details of the group.

It is important for the expert to understand the culture he is studying. For this, many ethnographers decide to live the experience in the first person, since this way they can see the events when they happen on a regular or daily basis.

It is holistic and naturalistic

It studies the general reality of the events seen from two points of view: an internal one, as if it were a member of the group; and the other external, properly the interpretation of the researcher as a person outside of said society.

Inductive character

Experience and exploration are the tools to get to know a social setting first-hand through participant observation. From this strategy, information is obtained that generates conceptual categories.

The idea of ​​the research is to discover regularities and associations between observed social phenomena to analyze them based on models, hypotheses and explanatory theories.

Follow a cyclical pattern

Ethnographic procedures tend to overlap and occur simultaneously. The data collected and its explanations work to collect more and more new information.

A distinctive peculiarity of ethnographic or qualitative research is that field research is essential; in these cases, reality starts from the study of social phenomena that are later analyzed with thesis.

Ethnographic design

Ethnography is an investigative tool. There are researchers who consider it a branch of social or cultural anthropology, since it was previously used to analyze aboriginal communities.

However, it is currently applied to study any group, as it focuses on the context of a social phenomenon and observes it in its natural environment. After this study, a culture or part of it can be described.

Usually the ethnographic report integrates all aspects of the research: the theoretical and empirical information that supports the work, the experiences lived and the results obtained analyzed in the thesis.

Taking this into consideration, the report includes theoretical and practical background, detailed description of the methods and procedures used, results and final conclusions.

There are important aspects when choosing an ethnographic design. For example, you must be minimalist and flexible to organize an open plan of action to approach the phenomenon, face the unexpected and collect the required information.

There are researchers who affirm that it is essential to know how to ask questions, determine the objectives of the work and choose well the field of research.

Once these points are clear, the ethnographer sets out to evaluate and choose his methods and techniques.

Ethnographic method

In this type of research, inductive and deductive methods should be used. There are two opposing approaches: the first part of the observed facts to formulate theories, and the second studies the theses to deduce phenomena.

In short, the inductive method goes from the particular to the general, and the deductive method is absolutely the opposite, part of the general to arrive at the peculiarity of each case.

Among the main steps that should be followed within a study of this type, the following stand out:

- Participant observation.

- Preparation of maps. Within a group there are specific places to carry out each activity. The professional must make a mapping of the place, indicating the public, private, religious areas, among others.

- Relationship maps. It refers to establishing figures of power, genealogical trees and elements that help to understand the relationship of individuals in certain groups.

- Conduct informal interviews.

- Conduct formal interviews

- Organize discussion groups

- Collect life stories: autobiographies, personality interviews.

- Document stories. There are communities where myths and legends are fundamental. In addition, they provide data on the culture, beliefs and values ​​of the analyzed society.

- Study ethnosemantics. It is the analysis of how this culture understands certain concepts and meanings. Sometimes the same word in one place has a different concept in another. This will make the professional better understand everyday life.

- Take photos and, if possible, videos.

- Consult censuses. There are cases in which this data is not available. If possible, the researcher can do his own census.

- Classify and archive the data.

Ethnographic techniques

Participant observation

It is the most important technique for obtaining information. It is based on the description and narration of social phenomena through the people involved in the events.

It is based on the observation of the investigator, who asks and examines what happened. But for this, the professional must earn the trust of the group and join it; this will prevent you from being seen as a stranger and intruder.

The more comfortable they are with the ethnographer, the more spontaneous and natural societies will act. Even this connection between scientist-group will awaken feelings and sensations that will guide the interviews and the direction to follow at work.

Looking does not mean observing, and this process is not just about seeing. It even begins with the training and preparation of the observer and the design of their investigation.

But the function does not stop there, participation is also necessary, entering that culture without losing their own beliefs.

According to Durkheim, the scene must choose a social fact, plan the time of observation, describe what is observed, collect ethnographic data and participate at all times in the phenomenon.

Once at home or in the office, you should sort the information, ask relevant questions, and study the data in depth.

The formal interview

The formal interview is a face-to-face meeting with group members. It is a strategy so that, question after question, information is obtained about the particularities of culture and customs.

It is best to do it in an organized and directed way through a questionnaire, which must be prepared by the researcher in advance and must be based on the objectives of the thesis.

They are spontaneous conversations. It is an interaction of talking and listening, so eye contact is essential to establish a closer connection with the informant and build trust.

Survey

It is used when it comes to studies where the unit of analysis is people. They are based on structured questionnaires and with specific questions, either open or closed.

Your data can reflect patterns of behavior, feelings and opinions of each individual with a specific situation or phenomenon.

To carry out a survey, you must choose the sample and determine if it is representative. Subsequently, the survey is carried out, to then empty the data and analyze the results of each question.

Examples

Same concepts with different cultures and purposes

A word can have the same meaning in several countries, even in the whole world; but the way of exercising this word and using it can change.

Fashion is a concept that does not change. However, putting it into practice is an action that varies according to culture, religion and even profession.

On February 1, 2018, journalist Elizabeth Bucar published on The Atlantic portal a study on how Muslim women use fashion to exert political influence.

In this study he explains how he innovates in a conservative environment through his research in three different societies: Tehran, Iran; Yogyakarta, Indonesia; and Istanbul, Turkey.

Reasons for certain behaviors

It is common for the causes of certain decisions and behaviors of individuals within society to be analyzed. Migratory movements are a sample of that.

The Northwestern sociologist and gender and sexuality studies, Héctor Carrillo, published his book Pathways of Desire: Sexual Migration of Mexican Gay Men in January 2018, a text that collects the four-year research of this professional and his team.

The study focused on sexual motivations for migration and they relied on trust to get the information they needed.

The work showed that “the motivations behind transnational migration are not purely economic or family. In fact, people who come from countries like Mexico sometimes get involved in migration for lifestyle reasons.

Political studies

Politics is present throughout the world and always has the same objective: to get to power.

Strategies at this level are based on market studies, surveys, and analysis of political discourse, so ethnographic research is essential.

In the Philippines, Marco Garrido, professor of sociology, conducted an assessment of political beliefs in that country.

According to the study, which was originally based on former Philippine president and film actor Joseph Estrada, they suggest theories that may be applicable to the study of populist politics around the world.

This includes the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States.

References

1. Anderson, G. (1989). Critical Ethnography in Education: Origins, current status, and new directions. Retrieved on February 6, 2018, from cedu.niu.edu
2. Arnal, J. Del Rincón, D. and Latorre, A. (1992) Educational research. Educational research methodologies. Retrieved on February 6, 2018, from studocu.com
3. Bucar, E. (February, 2018). How muslim women use fashion to exert political influence. Retrieved on February 6, 2018, from theatlantic.com
4. Carrillo, H. (January, 2018). Pathways of desire: putting sex back into sexuality studies. Retrieved on February 6, 2018, from northbynorthwestern.com
5. Gaulkin, T. (January, 2018). Sociologist's research on Filipino leader reveals insights into populist politics. Retrieved on February 6, 2018, from news.uchicago.edu