Ahmedabad University| IET| Ethnography Studio

Jayraj Dave (Team-3)

Differently abled
children@AMA
1. INTERVIEWING AN INFORMANT
a. Describe six ways in which an ethnographic interview is different from
a friendly conversation.
1. Difference in purpose: In friendly conversations, there is lack of
explicit purpose. Neither of the parties are looking for any specifics.
While in ethnographic interview, there is a required presence of an
explicit purpose. In friendly conversation parties dont care where they
are going in talk as long as they get somewhere. While in ethnographic
interview, an interview must be clear with the purpose of conversation.
And he should also remind the informant that where interview is to go.
2. Repetition: In friendly conversation repetition is avoided. Both friends
assume that once something has been asked or stated repetition
becomes unnecessary. Repetition in same conversation is especially is
avoided in friendly conversations. While in interview, repetition can
occur as and when required. In lengthy interview, ethnographer could
ask similar question over and over again to get more insights
3. Taking leave: After expressing the interest and there is much more to
learn, the ethnographer identifies topics that he doesnt know about,
things he wants to find out in future. This helps the informant realize
that show know more than she may think she knows. While in friendly
conversation ends with some verbal rituals that says, the end. They
must give some socially acceptable reason for ending.
4. Turn taking: Although informant and ethnographer take turns but they
are less balanced and more asymmetrical compare to a friendly
conversation. In interview, they dont ask same questions or reporting
on their experiences. The ethnographer ask almost all the questions and
informant talks about his experiences.
5. Expressing interest or ignorance: This aspect of relation is
asymmetrical in interview than in friendly conversation. Expressing
interest or ignorance occur more often but only on the part of the
ethnographer. At first most informants lack assurance that they know
enough, that the ethnographer is really interested.
6. Abbreviating: friendly conversations are filled with references that hint
at things or only give partial information as if both parties are seeking
economy of words. They avoid filling in all the details on the assumption
that the other person will fill them in. This assumption leads to
abbreviated talk that is extremely difficult for outsider to understand.
While in interview everything expressed in explicit details (No hidden
hints or references)
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Ahmedabad University| IET| Ethnography Studio

b. Explain each of the three different types of ethnographic questions

discussed in this chapter.
1. Descriptive questions: This type of questions enables an
ethnographer to get to know the ongoing sample of informants
language. These question dont require much thought behind it so they
are easiest to ask. There could be grand tour and mini tour
descriptive questions.
Example (Disabilities-Apang Manav Mandal): We asked students, What
is their daily routine like? Can you explain your schedule in detail?
2. Structural questions: These question allows ethnographer to discover
the information about domains. This tells about the basic units in an
informants cultural knowledge. It allows an ethnographer to know how
informants have organized their knowledge.
Example (Disabilities-Apang Manav Mandal): We can ask at AMA, What
is the procedure of an admission here? What are the different criteria for
admission?
3. Contrast questions: By these ethnographer gets to know about what
informant means by the various terms used in his native language.
These questions enables the ethnographer to discover the dimensions of
meaning which informants employ to distinguish the objects and events
in their world.
Example: what is the difference between a bass and a northern pike?

2. ASKING DESCRIPTIVE QUESTIONS

a. Describe two examples of how you might make rapport with
participants in your project based on the discussion in this chapter.
1.

First of all one thing I have been doing is not to judge them at all
whether it is conversation, interview, observation, etc. I never look at
those disabled children any differently. By doing this, they really feel
that I am not one of those people who look at them differently and
treat them differently.

2.

Participation: Second thing we are planning to do is being active

participant in one of their activities such as helping them with
cleaning or playing with them. One thing I have done is to teach

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Ahmedabad University| IET| Ethnography Studio

them English. By doing that so, they might take us as their well
wishers.
b. Create four grand tour questions relating to your project; one in each of the
four categories below
A typical grand tour question: Could you describe how your typical
routine of a day is?
A specific grand tour question: What different things did you do last
weekend?
A guided grand tour question: Could you show me around your hostel?
(Canteen, rooms, playground)
A task-related grand tour question: Could you show me something by
doing what you learn at school?

Andrea Stern
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Ahmedabad University| IET| Ethnography Studio

Andrea Stern
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