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Ethnographic study
Importance of fieldwork in anthropology
Ethnographic study
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Participant observation is conducted throughout anthropology and sociology as a fundamental research method. Moreover, participant observation is rendered through a researcher’s efforts to delve into social concepts and diverse cultures in an interpersonal and comprehensive manner (Kawulich, 2005). Being examined, is an example of participant observation in concurrence with an example of methodology, theoretical perspective and epistemology. The example of participant observation will be addressed alongside a discussion on findings. Further, an evaluation plus recommendations will be made for future research observations. Lastly, the implications of ethics will be considered. Plus, the benefits and applications of this research method will be reviewed. Participant observation is a research method used within the method of ethnography. Ethnography being a scientific representation of people’s cultures, principles and behaviours (Iphofen, n.d.). Participant observation places the researcher in a position where they may contextualise situations through the guise of participants. Further, participant observation enables one to better understand the participants or group being observed through its practicality and lack of bias. This form of Ethnography is founded on the philosophy of …show more content…
As, the researcher I tended to focus upon common behaviours and shared experiences through the belief that the participants share a cultural perspective (Wall, 2015). Significantly, I recognised how difficult it can be to wholly place your presumptions to the side, whilst observing others. I do believe it is important to enter an observation with a clear and objective mindset. Correspondingly, I agree with Walter’s notion that it is easier to perceive particular structures and cultural norms, when the participants and setting in observation, differs from what is conversant to you (Walter,
In Barre Toelken’s essay “Seeing with a Native Eye: How Many Sheep Will It Hold?”, the ways in which one culture perceives another and the criteria used to make judgements are explored. Toelken states “I think I can say something about how differently we see things, envision things, look at things, how dissimilarly different cultures try to process the world of reality” (10-11). In essence, Toelken is alluding to how different cultures will interpret their experiences and rituals according to their own set of beliefs and practices. This complicates situations in which the experiences or rituals are not comparable across cultural lines; someone will always be missing an aspect or a significant purpose if they do not try to “see it as much as possible with the ‘native eye’” (12). In other words, one must immerse themselves in the culture they are analyzing, while not comparing it to their own cultural experiences. One must consider all the cultural implications of that specific culture when wondering why things are done a certain way. Toelken provides
Participant observation has been lauded as an excellent technique for dealing with various complex socio-cultural phenomena suggests Jorgensen (1989) and Robson (2011).Similarly Tedlock (1991) also posits that the expectations on participant observation as a research methodology are high as it is expected t...
Job Execution & Quality of Work- I rate Alicia a 2 due to some errors over the past year. On 10/09/2015 Alicia was given a deposit transaction to process in the amount $500.00. On 10/26/15, it was discovered this item was not processed. The transaction was found in Alicia’s work dated 10/09/15 and had in fact not been processed. Then 10/27/2015 Alicia received coaching and counseling on how to process her transactions as she had an unposted transaction for a customer. On 10/29/2015 Alicia was given a GL transaction to process in the amount $99.00. On 11/2/15, it was discovered this item was not processed. The transaction was found in Alicia’s work dated 10/29/15 and had in fact not been processed. Alicia does struggle with quality of work due to errors for example on 5/18/2016 teller suspense was off $540 due to Alicia not buying the money from the day before her teller drawer should have shown off. Then 8/27/2016 they were made out as 150900 instead of 1509001. Alicia have shown improvement but I feel she still have room for improvement the execution of her daily job and the quality of work.
Main Argument and Thesis The main point of the article is that becoming personally involved in a population through the role of participant observation often may require a period of orientation, the challenging of moral/ethical standards, unforeseen emotional side effects, and wavering objectivity, making it a complicated and unpredictable process. Supporting Evidence The author, Claire E. Sterk, supports the main idea through providing details of her experience as a participant observer. Instead of just speaking about her research, Sterk talks about specific challenges she faced along the way.
Participant observation is a method of collecting information and data about a culture and is carried out by the researcher immersing themselves in the culture they observing. The researcher becomes known in the community, getting to know and understand the culture in a more intimate and detailed way than would be possible from any other approach. This is done by observing and participating in the community’s daily activities. The method is so effective because the researcher is able to directly approach the people in the community in a natural context as opposed to taking the participant out of their environment. The aim of participant observation is to gain an understanding the subject’s life from their perspective, with the purpose of collecting more detailed information about a community’s habits, opinions, relationships and issues.
The style of ethnography I utilised for this project was participant observation. I attempted to collect data from my local shopping centre covertly, by sitting amongst the people and observing the happenings. This is referred to by Maxfield and Babbie, (2015) as the detached observer. I felt a detached observer participant observation was most useful for this fieldwork, as it would ensure that the data collected would be valid and reliable as it was taken from a natural environment were the participant were unaware their observer was conducting a research project (Maxfield & Babbie, 2015).
Bourgois early on states that he utilizes the participant observation method, which is the standard method used by cultural anthropologists that require the researcher to live within a community to study daily activities, he primarily uses this process because he believes it to be more of an effective method than surveys, where lasting relationships cannot be formed, therefore, researchers are unable to ask personal questions
Anthropologists conduct fieldwork by studying people, their behaviours, and their culture. This is done in the field by actively striving to interpret and understand the world from the perspective of those studied (Powdermaker, 1968, Keesing 1981). Anthropological participant-observation includes a “deep immersion into the life of a people” (Keesing, 1981 p.16) with an aim to produce an ethnography that accurately details the experience in a holistic and valuable style (Powdermaker, 1968, Keesing 1981). Generally, full participation in a culture is thought to reduce the interference the researcher has on the behaviour of the informants (Seymour- Smith, 1986). Participant-observation is still widely used by anthropologists as it offers deeply insightful real world accounts which are difficult to achieve using other methods (Seymour-Smith, 1986, Li,
Embarking on a journey of anthropological fieldwork will undoubtedly include a plethora of setbacks. At its foundation, fieldwork requires developing rapport with the native people in order to gain access of genuine knowledge pertaining to the specific culture being studied. Subsequently, social communication between the researcher and the native people is a key component to the entire process; yet simultaneously it is a root of the many problems a researcher can encounter while in the field. It is no secret that the cultural background of the researcher can often highly contrast the culture he or she enters during fieldwork. This initial cultural adaptation one must undergo while doing anthropological fieldwork is what many in the realm describe as culture shock.
Observation allows researchers to experience a specific aspect of social life and get a firsthand look at a trend, institution or behaviour. It promotes good communication skills, improves decision making and enhances awareness.
Introduction Today, medical professionals extensively participate, read and contribute in medical research. The research field has become an integral part of medical training for health experts. Research in the epidemiology is important for fostering research knowledge and skills in the pertinent vocabulary and methods to research. Therefore, experimental and observational provides direct control or investigation. The studies provide tests for effectiveness of the intervention for comparing the outcome in terms of intensity or frequency of the outcome.
Conducting a participant observation allowed me to develop insight into the group and build a relationship with the other group attendees. When I arrived to the facility, I signed in at the front desk of the health clinic. I then sat in small waiting area, which
According to Cozby (2009), systemic observers may face validity issues associated with their equipment; it would be difficult to accurately observe and record at the same time without the use of camera or audio recording device. Similar to naturalistic observation, the researcher must be, optimally, a covert observer; by having an observer watch the participants, the participants might change their behavior. Sampling of behaviors for a short amount of time might also be an issue because it is less accurate and useful than long-period observations.
There are many issues which may arise in regard to cross-cultural conflict, from both sides of the interaction. It is acknowledged, for instance, that this writer, like everyone else, has his own preconceptions that will influence how he processes data and behave, and which are primarily due to the ‘accident’ of his cultural up-bringing. These ‘prejudices’ may influence the way he works with others, especially if they go unrecognised by him.
Orientation to the major classes here at the University of Mount Olive are designed to introduce psychology majors to important topics like graduate schools, potential jobs, proper writing, and professionalism. It is beneficial so that all psychology majors are on the same page and since we are all in the same class it provides an opportunity to get to know one another. Getting to know other students interested in psychology is both fun and important. It is fun because we all have similar interests and it is important, so we can have a network that can be used in the future. Though there are some things about the class that I did not like.