Ethnographic Observation
An ethnography is a useful qualitative research tool in which data is collected about people interacting in a particular setting. In this exercise of ethnographic observation, you will be an unobtrusive researcher observing the social world of individuals and/or groups in a particular setting.
The goal of this exercise is to do a 90-minute observation in a selected setting and to document your observations using field notes. In ethnographic research, field notes serve as the central source of data and are used to capture, in detail, your observations while in the setting. More specifically, notes from the field should contain complete narratives and should provide “thick and rich description” of the setting so that anyone who reads your field notes will understand and experience the social setting without actually being there.
Preparation and Methodological Considerations:
Please review class materials relevant to ethnographic observation.
Ethnographic Research
Ethnographic Field Notes
Select a site to study. Sometimes it helps when the site contains a group of participants that are different from you in 2 out of following list of characteristics:
Ethnicity
Age
Socioeconomic status
Sex/Gender identification
Religious affiliation
Click here for ideas on groups or settings to observe.
Other ideas include observation/participant observation at a family gathering, sporting event, religious service, coffee shop, restaurant, club meeting, airport, concert, hospital, amusement park, gym, etc.
Choose a safe setting and gain permission to visit if necessary.
Jot down your DETAILED field notes.
Allow 90 minutes to observe a single setting where people interact.
Develop an observational protocol to help record detailed field notes.
Click here for an example of how your field notes should be organized.
Your field notes MUST have descriptive AND reflective notes.
Click here for more information on descriptive and reflective notes.
Record basic information about the setting as well as who, what, when, and for how long you observed particular events and activities. Field notes should include descriptive and reflective notes, and drawing(s) diagramming the setting and important features.
Note any patterns you observe, or point out any observations or patterns that particularly surprise you.
Your goal should be to identify patterns in the subculture: in the way it works, the values that its members share, the ways they communicate and interact, their patterns of behavior, or some more narrowly focused question (such as the different ways that male and female members interact).
Start with a description of the place itself. Map out the space. How does traffic flow? What’s the general atmosphere? What details create that atmosphere? What’s the lighting like? The floor? The furniture? Pictures on the wall? Of what? Remember that you have five senses. What do you smell, hear, taste, touch?
Pay attention to the people in your field site. What are their ages, genders, clothing? How do they interact? Record specific bits of conversation. Are they using any insider language, any unfamiliar words? Make sure to record objective, concrete details. Look for patterns. Ask questions.
YOU WILL BE SUBMITTING YOUR FIELD NOTES WITH YOUR WRITE UP.
Then, complete a write-up addressing the following questions:
Discuss the theme of your research and research question (What group are you studying? Were you interested in focusing on gender roles? stratification? cultural values?)
You may have discovered other themes during your observation, but what was your initial theme?
Discuss the setting – location, date, time of day
Discuss the participants
Discuss the patterns of behavior you observed and discuss the significance of your observations from a sociological perspective (Which sociological concepts did you identify? Which theories could be used to explain activities/behavior/situations?)
You MUST discuss at least THREE (3) sociological concepts AND TWO (2) sociological theories.
Discuss any questions that might have risen during your observation and analysis
IN ONE DOCUMENT, SUBMIT YOUR FIELD NOTES AND WRITE-UP.
Formatting:
Typed
Double-spaced
Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
1.25″ margins
Simply write your answers in a numbered list.
