BHV 390

Fieldwork &
Interviews
 Levels of Description
Thin Description
Is superficial information that has
contains no explanations and little or
no context.
Vs

Thick Description
Is in depth information that tells not only
what is present, but how and why it is
there, what accompanies it, and what
emotions and meanings are attached
to it.

(Clifford Geertz)
Thin description is usually associated
with
Surveys
Experiments
Quantitative research

Thick description is usually associated

with
Fieldwork
Qualitative research
 Fieldwork
Studying humans in
their natural social
and environmental
contexts
 Methods Used in
Fieldwork
Observation
Participant observation
Interviewing
Ethnographic
Structured
Case Studies
Clinical
Biographical
Ethnographic
 Participant Observation
Definition: Observing while
participating in everyday
activities in the group you are
studying

Participant Observation depends on:

1. Finding a role you can reasonably play
2. Obtaining permission to participate
3. Learning how to play the role
 Ethnographic
Interviewing
Viewing the interviewee as the expert
on the topic express your own
ignorance
Using open-ended items/questions
Frame elicitation questions
Showing eagerness to learn the point
of view of the interviewee
Individuals who are interviewed on
a regular basis are called Key
Informants
Frame Elicitation Questions
Definition: content free questions
that encourage people to talk
These questions are like picture frames; you can
put anything into the blank spaces!

Examples
Descriptive question:
Tell me about ____________?
Structural question:
What kinds of __________ are there?
Contrast question:
Whats the difference between_______ and _______?
Structured Interviewing

Knowing a lot about your topic

before you start
Knowing exactly what
information you want from
each interviewee
Preparing questions ahead of
time
Ordering questions so that all
interviews are the same
 Ethnography
Definition: a detailed
description of a single
societys culture
Usually includes at least some of
each:
Fieldnotes Mapping
Journaling Tape recording
Genealogies Photography
Interviewing Participating
 Preparing for and
Initiating Fieldwork
1. Read everything you can about the
group
2. Learn as much of the language as you
can
3. Locate a person or agency to introduce
you to the group
4. Find a culturally appropriate role you
can play in the group
5. Establish relationships with key
informants
6. Deal with culture shock and
ethnocentrism
Data Recording Techniques

Field Notes
Personal journaling
Photography and videography
Genealogies
Data Processing and
Analysis Techniques
Rewriting notes
Content analysis of notes
Creating an organizational
structure using
Typologies
Paradigms and Taxonomies
Computerization
Textual analysis programs
Data storage in spreadsheets
Taxonomies
Paradigms
 Study Guide
Thick Description
Thin Description
Fieldwork
Participant Observation
Observation
Ethnographic Interviewing
Structured Interviewing
Ethnography
Fieldnotes
Journaling
Photography
Geneologies
Rewrite notes
Content analysis of notes
Typologies
Paradigms