Group 1 EDITH VIRIMA CODY BELL JANE MUSHIPE MARGRET MAHAPA

ETHNOGRAPHY : DEFINITION : FIELDWORK CONDUCTED BY A SINGLE INVESTIGATOR WHO LIVES WITH AND LIVES LIKE THOSE WHO ARE STUDIED USUALLY FOR A YEAR OR MORE. ASPECTS OF ETHNOGRAPHY RELIES ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION ITS FOCAL POINT INCLUDES o LANGUAGE AND CULTURE LEARNING o INTENSIVE STUDY OF FIELD OR DOMAIN o BLEND OF HISTORICAL OBSERVATION OR INTERVIEWS MTHODS IT EMPLOYS THESE 3 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION INTERVIEWS OBSERVATION DOCUMENTS THIS IN TURN PRODUCES THREE KINDS OF DATA WHICH ARE o QOUTATIONS o DESCRIPTIONS o EXCERPTS OF DOCUMENTS THIS RESULTS IN NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION-IT INCLUDES CHARTS, DIAGRAMS, ADDITIONAL

ARTIFACTS WHICH HELP TO TELL THE STORY

IT INVOLVES BOTH ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY

VARIATIONS IN OBSERVATIONAL METHODS

MAKING THE CHOICE TO EMPLOY FIELDWORK INVOLVES A COMMITMENT TO GET CLOSE TO THE SUBJECT BEING OBSERVED IN ITS NATURAL SETTING.

VARIATIONS IN OBSERVER INVOLVEMENT PARTICIPANT 1. THE RESEARCHER SHARES AS INTIMATELY AS POSSIBLE IN THE LIFE AND ACTIVITIES OF THE PEOPLE IN THE OBSERVED SETTING FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING AN INSIDERS VIEW OF WHATS HAPPENING ONLOOKER THE RESEARCHER IN THIS CASE IS OBSERVING WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHOUT NECESSARILY PARTICIPATING

Group 2 ETHNOGRAPHY AS A METHOD Ethnography refers to social research, (M. Hammersley, 1990) Features of ethnography a) Peoples behavior is studied in everyday context, rather than experimental conditions created by the researcher. b) Data are gathered from a range of sources but observation and / relatively informal conversations are usually the main ones. c) Data is unstructured since there is no detailed plan set used in collecting the data. Initially the data is in its raw state. d) The focus is usually a single setting or group, of a relatively small scale. In life history research, the focus may even be a single individual. e) The analysis of the data involves interpretation of meanings and functions of human actions and mainly takes the form of verbal descriptions and explanations, with quantification and statistical analysis playing a subordinate role at most.

Overally this method is less specialized and less technically sophisticated than approaches like the experiment or the social survey.

SUMMARY GUIDELINES FOR FIELDWORK There is no universally accepted formulae for fieldwork since this depends on the situation, purpose of the study, nature of the setting, and the skills, interest, needs and point of view of the observer. The following are generic guidelines; 1. Be descriptive in taking field notes, 2. Gather a variety of information from different perspectives, 3. Cross validate and triangulate by gathering different kinds of data. E.g. observations, interviews, program documentation, recordings, and photographs. 4. Use quotations; represent program participants in their own terms. Capture participants views of their own experiences in their own words. 5. Select key informants wisely and use them carefully. Draw on the wisdom of their informed perspectives, but keep in mind that their perspectives are limited. 6. Be aware of and sensitive to the different stages of fieldwork. a) Entry Stage Build trust and Rapport b) Middle Phase Stay alert and disciplined c) Closing Stage Focus, pull together a useful synthesis d) Be disciplined and pay close attention in taking detailed notes at all stages of the fieldwork e) Be fully involved but still an analytical perspective grounded in the purpose of the fieldwork f) Clearly separate description and from interpretation and judgement g) Provide formative feedback and observe its impact h) Include your own experiences, thoughts and feelings. This is field data.

SUMMARY GUIDELINES FOR INTERVIEWING There is no one universally accepted way of interviewing, and the following are guidelines 1. Keep centered on the main purpose of the research endeavor, 2. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of different types of interviews, 3. Select the type of interview most appropriate to the purposes of the research effort, 4. Ask truly open ended questions, 5. Avoid leading questions 6. Please refer to the reader page 115-117 for more guidelines (they are 25 in total)

SITE DOCUMENTS Find out if there are documents at all about the research subjects that may be useful in getting insight about the subject. These can be memos, advertisements, newsletters, website e.t.c Privacy or copyright issues may apply to the documents gathered so it is important to enquire about this when you are given the documents.

Group3 Ethics in Ethnographic research

Research goals must be clear to the members of the community ( the population under study) where research is undertaken.

 Get consent from the community to carry out the study and if they want feedback on the results. Establish the groups preference for identification and acknowledgement. The research should not expose or harm the community. The right to privacy and confidentiality especially of the individuals. Present findings and results in a transparent manner.

Analyzing and interpretation

Analysis and interpretation are two separate processes. Analysis is the process of bringing order to the data. The researchers role in analysis is a continuum from data collection to interpretation. Interpretation involves attaching meaning and significance to the analysis.
Qualitative Description

 It is a description of what happened during the collection of information and is written in narrative form.
Report findings

The primary stakeholders will determine the content and format and content of the report.

The researcher should focus on key issues in order not to lose the readers. (the agony of omitting).

Balance between description and analysis

There should be the balance between description and analysis which leads into interpretation. The report should be precise, concise and complete.
Historical Research

This is examination and interpretation of available evidence about the past. Examples of evidence includes maps, pictures, artifacts, recorded data e.t.c. Deals with the meaning of events. Historians use libraries to find primary and secondary sources.

 This requires patience, imagination and the right tools. It requires objectivity.

METHODOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES

NATURALISM-IT CAPTURES THE CHARACTER OF NATURALLY OCCURING HUMAN BEHAVIOUR WITHOUT ANY ARTIFICIAL SETTING. IN STUDYING NATURAL SETTINGS THE RESEARCHER SHOULD SEEK TO MINIMIZE HER OR HIS EFFECTS ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE PEOPLE BEING STUDIED UNDERSTANDING- MUST GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON WHICH THEY ARE BASED. IT IS NECESSARY TO LEARN THE CULTURE OF THE GROUP ONE IS STUDYING BEFORE ONE CAN PRODUCE VALID EXPLANATIONS FOR THE BEHAVIOUR OF ITS MEMBERS DISCOVERY: A RESEACHER SHOULD NOT BE BLINDED BY THE ASSUMPTIONS BUILT INTO THE HYPOTHESIS