Ethnography

Method categorization
Quantitative	Qualitative
Inductive	Deductive
Individual	System	Global
Past	Present	Future

Short Definition

Ethnography can be regarded one of the most important qualitative research methods that looks back at a long tradition but also transitions. Deriving from the discipline anthropology, ethnology is vital for social sciences, although today it cannot be equated with one specific disciplinary background. Brewer defines ethnography as “the study of people in naturally occurring settings or ‘fields’ by methods of data collection which capture their social meanings and ordinary activities, involving the researcher participating directly in the setting, if not also the activities, in order to collect data in a systematic manner but without meaning being imposed on them externally.” (2)

References

(1) Atkinson, Paul/Delamont, Sara/Coffey, Amanda (2007): Handbook of Ethnography. London/ThousandOaks/New Delhi: Sage. (2) Brewer, John D. (2000): Ethnography

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