Ethnography & Field Observations An immerse method to get to know a population
Definition
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Ethnographies are long term engagements between a researcher and a user population. The
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more honest snap shot. •
“The description of ethnography as the in a group to develop an understanding of the group is straight from social science research... Ethnography can help in providing an understanding of the context in which specific interfaces or systems are developed
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Ethnography is done in the field and is best suited for long term engagements. The goal is to deeply get to know a population and gain understanding.
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Long term engagement. Really big time commitment.
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First hand exposure with a particular community. In the Understand process, beliefs, culture, how they do what they do.
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You are immersed in the environment. Lazar. Research Methods in Interaction Design. Chapter 9
in public you can be anonymous.
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when it’s private you have to be known
Perspective changing, you form relationships and you Relationship is key- something the community does not
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This give researchers a LOT a data.
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Triangulation: you always have a wide range of types of data: video, interviews, photos, etc. You want to put them all together to see things form many perspectives.
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Premature Closure: how do you know when you need to end study? It will depends.
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What can you see in ethnographic field work?
You will distinguish between Practices: •
Consistent behavior, recurring actions/activities.
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Routines, where they’re interrupted- break downs, repairs, negotiations.
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wild, not in the lab. •
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like will effect what they’ll allow you to see.
Characteristics of Ethnography •
Public vs. Private:
often keep those.
and implemented.”1
Nature of the method
Unlike interviews: gradually people become used to you very good at describing what they do, ethnography is a
community and analyze research results through
practice of using some form of participation
You can’t have an end goal in mind.
being there and stop holding back. Also, people aren’t
researcher’s goal is to become immersed in a an inductive analysis.
Inductive: you collect data and create theory around it.
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[Longest length]
Episodes: •
More dramatic, more remarkable.
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ex: Weddings and Collaring in Second Life
Ethnography & Field Observations ∤ Page 6 ∤ Julia’s Methods Notebook 2014