Urban Geography
ETHNOGRAPHY
Achuth.Harikumar
(PG 180014) Urban Housing, CEPT University
What is Ethnography ? Defined as: • a method of observing human interactions in social settings and activities (Burke & Kirk, 2001) • as the observation of people in their ‘cultural context’ • the study and systematic recording of human cultures; also : a descriptive work produced from such research (Merriam-Webster Online) Rather than studying people from the outside, you learn people from the inside
BASIC DEFINITION Ethnography : "Ethnography is the art and science of describing a group or culture”. Ethnography came from the Greek : ethnos = folk/people and graphein = writing. It identifies its roots in sociology and anthropology.
CHARACTERISTICS •
CONTEXTUAL :The research is carried out in the context in which the subjects normally live and work
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UNOBTRUSIVE :The research avoids manipulating the phenomena under investigation.
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TIME-CONSUMING : The research is relatively long
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COLLABORATIVE : The research involves the participation of stakeholders other than the researcher.
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INTERPRETATIVE : The researcher carries out interpretative analyses of the data.
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ORGANIC : There is interaction between questions/ hypotheses and data collection/ interpretation .
WHO INVENTED ETHNOGRAPHY ? INVENTED BY: • Bronislaw Malinowski in 1915
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Spent three years on the Trobriand Islands (New Guinea)
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Invented the modern form of fieldwork and ethnography as its analytic component
WHO INVENTED ETHNOGRAPHY ? Bronislaw Malinowski Study pattern : Documented three types of data •
Detailed description of day to day life and activities
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All stories, narratives, myths, etc.
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Synoptic Charts
ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY : METHODOLOGY
Step 1: Preparation Step 2: Field Study Step 3: Analysis Step 4: Reporting
METHODOLOGIES STEP 01 : PREPARATIONS Familiarize yourself with: • • •
Organization policies Work culture Current System & its history
Identify the Focus of the Study • •
Set initial goals and prepare questions. Can be guided by designer goals
Gain access and permission Sponsors and Investors
METHODOLOGIES STEP 02 : FIELD STUDY Establishing rapport with user group Recording and documentation of all details : •
Observations
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Impressions
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Feelings
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Questionnaires
Making notes of field notes, audio or video Start following any leads
METHODOLOGIES STEP 03 : ANALYSIS Compile data into database : • • •
Numerical Textual Multi-media
Quantify data and compile statistics. Reduce and interpret data. Review and redevelop ideas.
METHODOLOGIES STEP 04 : REPORTING
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Purpose Statement Executive Summary Main Body Future Research
ADVANTAGES AND DIS-ADVANTAGES ADVANTAGES
DIS-ADVANTAGES
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‘Real-world’ data
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Context too specific
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Provides in-depth understanding of people in an organization.
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‘Going native’
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Must negotiate access
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Time & Money factor
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Data authenticity.
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Discovery of new culture. Can be economical for small scale study).
ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY : EXAMPLES
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City Requiem : Calcutta – Ananya Roy
Talks about the class and gender of people with respect to poverty . •
Coming of age in Samoa -Margaret Mead
Talks about the various culture and livelihood of the tribes in Samoa. •
The worth of water : Megan O’Brien
Talks about the water scarcity crisis and need of water supply in South-Africa
Urban Geography: ETHNOGRAPHY
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