Ethnographic Research: Characteristics, Advantages, and Drawbacks

This essay provides a detailed analysis of ethnographic research, a qualitative methodology used to study social interactions, behaviors, and perceptions within groups. It explores the key characteristics of ethnographic research, including its naturalistic and holistic approach, its reliance on firsthand data collection through interviews and observations, and its exploratory nature. The essay discusses the advantages of ethnographic research, such as its ability to provide in-depth understanding, generate objective data, and reveal complex group behaviors. It also addresses the drawbacks, including the need for well-trained researchers, the time-consuming nature of the study, and the potential for subjective interpretations. The essay also examines the similarities and differences between ethnographic research and other qualitative approaches, providing a comprehensive overview of the method's strengths and limitations within the context of public health research.

Running head: KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
Key characteristics, advantages and drawback of ethnographic research
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
RESEARCH
Introduction:
The paper is developed to conduct a detailed analysis of ethnographic research by
addressing the key characteristics, drawbacks and advantages. The paper focuses on the
important methodology of qualitative research that is ethnography. All such aspects of
ethnographic research is discussed by referring to the relevant theory and research work.
Ethnography can be described as the study behaviour, social interaction and behaviour that
happens within any particular groups such as communities, team and organizations. That is
the research design of ethnography is precisely about the societies, individual and culture,
where the cultural and social aspects of the society is read. Ethnography has its own
advantages and disadvantages as like other methods of research. However, the method of
collecting data is totally different when using ethnographic design in the research paper. The
objective of designing ethnographic research is to explore phenomenon of culture where the
society is observed by the researchers from a particular point of view. Also, the research
method used in this particular study is qualitative where the participants of study is interacted
and observed by the researchers in their real life environment. The application of
ethnographic research can be done virtually to any thoughtful of anthropological and
sociological subject of enquiry.1 Lastly, paper has also outlined the differences and
similarities between ethnographic and other qualitative research approaches.
Discussion:
Ethnography was originated in year dated back to early 1990 when the research
undertook the work of anthropological studies of rural and small societies and the
documentation of their belief system and social arrangements were done. Later on, the
application of this approach was done on the numerous urban settings to study their social
lives by the members of Chicago school of sociology. Ethnography has the central objective
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
RESEARCH
of providing holistic and rich insight into the actions and views of the people along with
incorporating the observation of nature of their location and such information was done by
conducting a detailed interviews and observation2. The enquiry of ethnography also included
some new development such as auto ethnography, virtual or online ethnography and eta
ethnography. In the auto ethnography, the central element of study is the perspective and
thoughts of researcher in their social interaction, in visual or online ethnography, the
customary notions of study of ethnography is extended to interactions that are technologically
mediated in online communities and network from face to face interaction of the participants
of researcher and situated observation. Numerous elements in the field notes is required to be
recorded by the ethnographers due to the complicated nature of social life. The observations
of participants is typically gathered by the ethnographers and this necessitates direct
involvement and engagement with the world they have undertaken study on3.
Some instances where ethnographic studies can be used include conducting research
on the meanings of the views and norms of culture, for gaining an understanding of the
reasons behind the application of certain practices and behaviour, when it is required to
examine social encounters and interaction, for understanding the sanitation and hygiene
practices of particular communities, for studying the workers behaviour in any organization,
when it is required to gain new insights and identify particular pattern in the social behaviour
and when it is required to conduct an examination into any particular trend and instances of
migration, divorce and illness4.
Characteristics of ethnographic research:
Ethnography is one of the kind of qualitative research that helps in producing a
comprehensive and detailed account of variety of social phenomenon by gathering data from
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3
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
RESEARCH
interviews, observations and documentaries. Such research methodology has a strong
foundation in naturalism and empiricism as the data collection is done in a social setting that
is naturalistic. There is a difference between positivistic inquiry and ethnographic study as the
hypothesis of research work is not done by the ethnographers and no testing of hypothesis is
set out by the ethnographers5. The research work conducted under the ethnographic design is
rather exploratory in nature rather than positivistic. Under this approach, in order to explore a
certain social interactions and a cultural group, it is required by the ethnographers to get out
in the field and therefore, it is not necessary to specify the research questions at the beginning
of conducting the research work. As the ethnographers is required to study the social
phenomenon, research questions are developed by thick descriptions and which is facilitated
by iterative and inductive approach.6
The social phenomenon that is being studied under the ethnography offers a richly
described accounts with the help of its written record. Such phenomenon can be explained,
illuminated and framed by entailing a theoretical component with the help of producing
textual reports. Like the needs of all other researches, it is important that ethnographic
research is undertaken in an ethical manner and attention and due care should be exercised so
that the interest of the participants of research is safeguarded.7 For the purpose of data
analysis, ethnographic research literature demonstrates the trend where such method becomes
reliant on the software programmes. Ethnographers are provided with a new ways to manage
and organize the data due to great variation in the capabilities available in the software
packages.
Some of the main characteristics of ethnography research are listed below:
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
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Naturalistic and holistic- The general reality of the facts can be studied from
different viewpoints that is external and internal. External viewpoint include researcher
interpretation of the society studied and internal view point is the researcher being the
member of group.
Relatively persistent- In order to get the trust and acceptance of the participants, t is
important for the professionals to be involved in the group. This would help in creating a
connection and relationship between the society members that are being studied and
researchers8. The culture being studies by the researcher should be well understood to him.
Emico character or phenomenological- The social phenomenon studied should be
well interpreted from the inside perspectives of the participants of the group which helps
researcher in gaining a vision. Researcher will be able to know that social phenomenon can
be viewed as the society member through description and interpretation. 9
Ethnographic design-Many researchers considers ethnography as a branch of
cultural and social anthropology as such study was undertaken to conduct an analysis on
aboriginal communities and is regarded as an investigative tool. Usually, all the research
aspects is integrated under the ethnographic report and the work is sustained by the empirical
and theoretical information. A comprehensive explanation of the procedures and methods
implemented in and the final conclusions and results are also integrated in the report.10
Ethnographic model- Researcher under this method uses deductive and inductive
method which are the two opposed approaches for conducting research work. 11
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
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Cyclical model- The procedures of ethnography tends to occur and overlap on
simultaneous basis. More new information is collected with the help of explanation work and
collection of data.
Inductive design- The participant observation helps in knowing a social scenario by
the exploration and experience. The concept of categories is generated by obtaining the
information from this particular strategy. This is so because researchers intends to discover
the association and irregularities between the social phenomenon by conducting an analysis
based on the hypothesis, models and explanatory theories.12
Techniques of ethnography- Some techniques of ethnography used in the study
includes formal interview, participation observation and survey. This includes studying on
certain behaviour, studying the concepts with different purpose and culture and political
studies.
The quality of data in the ethnographic study is favoured instead of quantity. This
study therefore makes it important for the researcher to select the people on which the
research is aimed at and the right location. Often, a single group is studied under ethnography
due to the time consuming nature of the study. It is therefore required by the researcher to
plan accordingly and the study undertaken contribute to produce meaningful results by
choosing that the community in the best position. Ethnography is an in depth and detailed
description of the culture, way of society and of a society.13 The landscape of ethnographic is
the universe where a length period of time is investigated by researcher by interviewing and
observing people in their natural habitat.
12
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
RESEARCH
Advantages of ethnographic research:
Ethnographic study is one of the qualitative methods of conducting research that
became considerably popular and useful tool all across the academic globe in year 1980s.
Numerous advantage are offered by the qualitative research method of ethnography
and they are as follows:
Ethnography in terms of depth of gaining an understanding is considered as one of the
most valuable aspects of such research method. Compared to other research design,
ethnographic research helps the researcher to have an access to more accurate and wider
scope of data. Firsthand information is collected about the variables of research in this
qualitative approach of research. The outcome of research work conducted would be more
objective due to the availability of wide range of data to the researchers to work upon.14
A competitive differentiation within the population can be enabled under the
ethnographic research. A bespoke approach is enabled by the researcher under the
ethnographic research so that the products fitting the niche can be developed and thereby
shutting the competitors for good. A clearer insight is given by such research work whether
the ideas are delivering the promises.15
The complexity of behaviour of any group can be accounted by ethnographies as the
interrelationship between the various dimensions of the interaction of the group is revealed
by such research method. This in turn helps in providing behavioural contexts.16
Any unexpected issues can be analysed and identified using the ethnographic research and
such unexpected issues can be missed out in any other methods of research as they are not
based on interaction or in situ observations. Such issues under the ethnography research is
14
15
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
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directly apparent to the researcher and researcher helps in risk mitigation due to the presence
of in situ.17
One of the benefits of ethnographic research which is important to cite is the ability to
deliver the faithful and detailed representation of the attitudes and behaviour of users. An
ethnography study is quite useful in analysing and uncovering the emotions and attitudes of
users due to its subjective nature. The identified research problem is addressed by bringing
weakness and strengths due to the use of sociology, cultural anthropology, organizational
psychology and business.18
The group experiences qualities is revealed with the help of ethnographies and such
qualities is recognized in a manner that cannot be done by other method of researches. The
kind of follow up research and also helps in determining the future research questions. In
addition to this, the reason for occurrence of any particular behaviour instead of just
identifying the occurrence, is understood by researcher and expanding the knowledge range.
This can be explained with the help of an instance, teaching composition to students using a
processing method would help them in scoring higher grades rather than using other method
such as product method19. Nevertheless, it might be revealed by conducting a qualitative
study that even though the benefits of the process method are well known to the composition
instructors, product method continues to be used by them as revealed using qualitative
study.20
Drawbacks of ethnographic research:
There are some drawbacks too to be considered under ethnographic study and they are
listed below:
17
18.
19
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
RESEARCH
For conducting a study using ethnographic design, it is important to have a well-
trained researcher and this research method is also time consuming. Since the research
method of ethnography is a specialist method, a well-trained researcher in social theory is
required with having best practices in collection and analysis of data, sampling and research
design. Meaningful and long conversations would be driven by the research participants by
employing ethnographers who have excellent social skills and are trained. Analysis of data
under ethnographic research is time consuming and has a consequence of thick description of
cultural and societal issue. Often, culture shock is experienced by ethnographers due to their
immersion in the different culture and this also makes them experience occasional personal
danger and discomfort.21
Evaluation of ethnographic work faces the challenge of application of subjective and
scientific notions. This is so because both the artistic and scientific approaches is used by the
product and process for the interpretation and collection of data. Even when evaluating a
single piece of work that is complex, the application of subjective and scientific notion
becomes difficult. This requires to discuss the potential ways of evaluating the work along
with discussing the value of work that helps in facilitating the engagement with
ethnography.22
In order to facilitate the honest and full discourse, researchers should built trust with
the informants which takes quite a few time. In this regard, studies conducted for shorter term
are particular at disadvantage. Interpretation and collection of data along with the design of
study is also affected by the biasness of the researcher. When studying the pattern of
behaviour, false assumptions might results due to availability of too little data.23 Furthermore,
there might not be effective processing of the data available in larger quantity.
21
22
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
RESEARCH
Costs- Compared to other method of research, ethnographic can be a time consuming
and more expensive option. It is important to account for the factors such as researcher’s
salaries, cost of travel and time scales that would all add up to the expenses of conducting
research work.
It is important to take into account ethical issues prior to conduct any type of research
work. Various ethical dilemmas are faced by ethnographers because of their need to maintain
relationship whilst collecting data. In the methodology of ethnography, analysis of data is
unstructured and iterative and the components of data analysis cannot be teased apart easily.
It is important for the reader as well as ethnographer to understand the components of data
analysis as the rhetorical devices which might have been used in the writing and further
collection of data in reflected in part by such description of data.24
As regarding reliability, ethnographic study has issue as there is difficulty accurate
replication because there cannot be production of an event in natural setting and this
particular research work takes place in the natural process and settings. However, addressing
of such problem can be done by describing the research method as comprehensive so that the
strategies of original analysis can be reconstructed by the next researcher.25 Furthermore, it is
the agreement of researchers that forms the basis of replication findings. Findings under
ethnographic study is difficult to replicate because an accurate description of any
phenomenon being studied is required in ethnographic research. There might be variation in
the information flow in an effort to support the accurate description. Such situation makes
one researcher to make thicker description compared to another researcher and thereby
resulting in different interpretation.26 For addressing this issue, it is important for the
24
25
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
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researcher to ascertain the disagreement cause from the description so that the disagreement
can be resolved and discussed.
Identifying differences and similarities of ethnography with qualitative approaches:
The similarities between ethnographic research and other methods of research such as
grounded theory, narrative research, case study and phenomenology is that the research work
in all such approaches initiates with identifying research problem and then proceeding to the
research questions and then to the data analysis and interpretation and finally report.27
The comparison of five qualitative approaches of research is demonstrated in the table
below:
Ethnography Phenomenology Narrative
research
Grounded
theory
Case study
The focus of
research is to
interpret and
analyse the
social setting
and cultural
sharing of the
group.
The experience
essence is
understood in
this research
work.
Life of any
individual is
explored in this
research work.
The data
grounded in the
field is used to
develop the
theory.
For any
individual or
multiple cases,
an in depth
analysis and
description is
developed in
the study.
A group
sharing the
same culture is
the analysis unit
Numerous
individuals
sharing the
experience is
One or more
individual is
studied.
Action, process
or the
interactions of
many
A program,
event and
activity of one
or more than
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
RESEARCH
of the study. studied. individuals are
studied.
one individual
is studied.
Using
interviews and
observations as
primary data
but also relies
on other sources
to gather the
data.
Conducting
interviews with
individual,
observations,
and documents
and also
considering arts.
Documents and
using
interviews
primarily.
Primary data is
collected by
interviewing
twenty to sixty
individuals.
Multiple
sources are used
to gather data
such as
observations,
interviews,
artifacts and
documents.
The group
sharing culture
being studied is
the focus when
preparing the
report.
When writing a
report,
explaining the
phenomenon is
the main focus.
The focus is on
the nature of
story and the
participants.
The intention of
theory to
explain the
action and
process is the
focus when
writing report.28
Entry vignette
is used and
thereafter
focusing on the
central features
of the case. 29
28
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
RESEARCH
The concluding
format is to
describe the
work of cultural
sharing group
using a portrait
of culture.30
Conclusion
describe the
experience
essence.
In conclusion,
pattern of
meaning is
interpreted.
A theory is
advanced in the
conclusion.
A closing
vignette is
advanced and
assertions of
case study is
made.
Conclusion:
The paper outlining the characteristics and importance of ethnographic research has
identified that such research work offers numerous benefits as it can generate a detailed and
rich accounts for the researchers. It is important for the researchers to have well knowledge
and understanding the key elements and foundations of ethnography. In addition to the
advantages, the method of ethnography research has its limitations. Researchers are therefore
required to have wide range of skills so that the issues can be addressed. However, research
work of ethnography can be problematic as repeated access can be difficult to secure due to
long time spend by ethnographers in observing actions and talking to the participants. It is
important for the researchers interested in undertaking this research to well-known with the
prerequisites of such research.
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS, ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC
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