Ethnography. Part 1 of 2 on Ethnography and Participant Observation

A lecture on ethnography and managing the research role by Graham R Gibbs taken from a series on research methods and research design given to masters (graduate) students at the University of Huddersfield. This is part 1 of two, and examines the nature of ethnography, looks at some classic examples of ethnographic work using participant observation and considers some of the issues of managing the research role when doing participant observation.
For those interested, here is a short video with more details of the Tearoom Trade study that I mention. • Video

[@layerculture]

Dan is particular interested in how people live in different parts of the world, so he can learn how to live his live better. He started documenting his travels last year whilst searching for meaning behind what he was experiencing, he stumbled upon ethnography. He never realised that there was a whole systematic study around this. Thanks again for this introduction.

[@BTebii]

Mister Master Gibbs, Thank you very much for this priceless presentation.

[@jamalc327]

Working on my Doctorate and this was excellent! It was informative, but also fun.

[@mahjabeenmalik8202]

love the details because for a non native speaker words dont mean anything until aperson like him goes in depth . Athousand million thanks

[@missyR9]

wow u said it more clear than any of my lectures and im a third year student.

[@lioninzion712]

Thank you Mr. Gibbs! We appreciate you!

[@shamkashyap]

Thank you sir. This lecture is very helpful for someone getting ready to do Ethnography. The hands-on kind of approach is very useful to anticipate scenarios when one enters the field. Thank you so much!

[@GrahamRGibbs]

Glad you found it useful. Good luck with your project.

[@SiddharthHaobijam]

Sir's is probably one of the few youtube tutorials on this subjects whose comment sections are not enabled which is a good thing . Cant trust those tutorials where u fear audience feed-backs

[@anamikagurung1561]

Halfway through and already loving it 🙏👏

[@suzyf921]

fascinating review of the classic studies - thanks very much!! would love to hear you on some of the more recent ones which you refer to briefly

[@justicerichardkyei8946]

Thank you very much Prof. Gibbs for this insight because I did not really understand the participant observation

[@BryanM-n9d]

I'd like to see the "short video" that is mentioned, but the link is private. Can this video be accessed?

[@repakustipia]

Thank you Sir, My final research is an Ethnography of Eating Habit in Purwakarta

[@acpf4f]

thank you sir. excellent presentation for an introduction to ethnography,

[@Zamsyo]

Dear Graham, Thank you for this video. It has given me more clarity on ethnography than any material I have previously seen. I am a PG researcher. I am involved in small group teaching. Could I ask for permission to include the link to this video on my lecture slides on ethnography for my students to watch please?

[@GrahamRGibbs]

Mildred, good to hear from you. Yes of course you can include the link to the video. I have been told that several other universities are using my videos so you are not the first to do this. Good luck with your teaching.

[@Zamsyo]

Many thanks Graham! Much appreciated

[@irenemorcillo4506]

Thank you so much!! I have read a lot about ethnography but never understood until now!! The examples that you give help a lot!

[@yuelinwang661]

Thank you, Sir, for sharing this. It is immensely helpful for my research proposal

[@اسماءسليماااااااااني]

The employment networking in the Hollywood film industry.. is it ethnography or case study.. I need an answer plz urgently

[@gongxi3956]

Is ethnography a qualitative approach? I read many ethnographers say did not agree ethnography as qualitative (to name a few - Bryman, 2001; Hammersley, 2006; Walford, 2018)

[@laylihamida807]

It is qualitative since it does not really deal with numbers. However, we could actually combined ethnography with the statistic in quantitative method to ensure reliability and validity (triangulation) of the method.

[@aibikenurlan2786]

Hello, l am 16 years old, and l want to be an ethnographer. But the problem is that in the future l might not be able to research some ethnics that l am interested in. For example, ethnics in Afghanistan attract me. However, it is very difficult, or even almost impossible to go there. As l know, an ethnographer have to talk to leader of village, where people live in almost full isolation from modern life and collect much information about that nation. Possibly, l won't have that opportunity to do the research in Afghanistan. Should I just focus on other ethnics in the future? Because most members of ethics of Afghanistan live only there, in Afghanistan and l won't be able to find members of nations, that we can meet only there. Do ethnographers have got such problems? What do you think? Sorry, if l have got mistakes)

[@disappointment00000]

I like the idea of covert in Ethnography study. However, you did mention there is an ethical issue but I believe there are two other issues involves as well, in proper research, There are what call triangulation to avoid bias, The Issue in this research, How the researcher can make sure that he can avoid bias, mistakes, misunderstanding, saturation, etc., for example, what about if the people are aware of him and act in such behaviour to cover bigger crime like drugs exchange for example. As one of the findings makes no sense. Or what about if the researcher misunderstands the entire fact. Also, in Ethnography study, he can look, beyond people, like document and others, have the researcher done this? Also, I have a concern about the last research of Gofman, as soon someone knows he is doing research there is no guarantee that the other doesn't know his position and act differently and acting they don't know the researcher role, it sound naive if someone let him in and never tells anyone. finally, done entire research as covert never get you a perfect result

[@mmchaava]

Great teacher; thanks Dr. Gibbs

[@m.falconi9273]

Great presentation, thanks!

[@bioarcheologijosstudentai6674]

Participant observation is only a method or is it (or could it be) something more than just a method?

[@GrahamRGibbs]

+Bioarcheologijos studentai PO is not really even a method. It is just a way of collecting data. It can be used by those following different methodological approaches (constructivism, realism etc.) and is compatible with a range of forms of analysis.

[@titunnandi]

Excellent explanation. Kind regards

[@KiliChai]

Great lecture, thanks for sharing! Even though I thought ethical issues would have merited a little more attention...

[@GrahamRGibbs]

+Kilian Weber You're right, some of the ethnographies I discuss do raise important ethical issues. I deal with ethical issues in other videos (such as kzbin.info/www/bejne/eILIhqiuft-mnLc ) and in this session I chose to focus very much on the general methodological approach taken by ethnographers.

[@77tayo]

Great and simplified lecture.

[@hommastonlimited3187]

Hello Tayo. Do u do ethnography. I am new to the field and need somehelp

[@shenamaedionaldo2042]

POV: URE WATCHING THIS RN HAHAHAHA enjoy watching

[@yodidabhutia7935]

Very informative and presented with good illustrations

[@tsbhusal]

very informative to all levels

[@madjedabk1104]

Thanks a lot for these info.

[@oualidalamghouz94]

Wonderful

[@MequelScott]

Great information

[@RamyBakir]

Thanks for sharing, really helpful

[@Lifeisinruins]

Wonderful.

[@camillecronin3817]

very good - really enjoyed this presentation

[@cijohnson]

Thank you so very much! This class was very helpful!

[@aminalaababsa2751]

How about the sampling technique? How does the ethnographer/ researcher select his sample?

[@GrahamRGibbs]

+Muslima Laâb Yes, the ethnographer/researcher does sample, but the logic of this is very different from the kind of statistically representative sampling one finds in quantitative research. Sampling in qualitative research is a topic that is on my list of videos to shoot. In the meantime I do cover some of the issues in one of my videos on case studies, kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGamio2IrrSfr9U In some cases, ethnographers may use a sample of 1, by looking at just one setting, but including information from anyone in that setting. The setting could be a village, a workplace, a political group, an event, an extended family, a club etc. Though this may raise issues of what the boundary or limits of the setting are and what to do if the population in the sample is so large not everyone can practically be included.

[@MrTy0000]

Thanks

[@xilver3]

I wish all my professors have his accent. LOL

[@freevoodoopowerspells1999]

interesting

[@Alesweetangel]

thank youuu! helped a lot!