Ethnography Assignment
Ethnography involves studying and writing about a particular group, community, or subculture. Your role in this assignment is that of a primary researcher. The point of ethnography is to watch, to try to understand what’s going on, and to ask questions to test your observations.
Here are some examples of observation sites:
– Barber shops, nursing homes, firefighters, religious institutions, political organizations, self-help groups, emergency medical squads, athletic teams or games, concerts, businesses of all sorts , fraternities, sororities, clubs, internet forums, subcultural groups , theatre troupes, schools, prisons, subway or ferry riding during peak and off-peak times, train or bus stations, airports etc.
– Write a report (a paper) of what you have found using the following three sections:
1. Positioning yourself as the researcher:
Why did you choose this site? How did you feel about it going in according to your own history? What assumptions did you make about this culture?
2. What can you say about the people in this social space? This section is the bulk of your paper. Drawing from your field notes, tell us what you saw and heard. Talk about the patterns and rituals you observed. What are the “rules” or norms of this place? Which way is the right way to behave? How do you know who is an outsider? Here you are creating a picture of your culture, so don’t forget about dialogue, descriptions, etc.
3. Reflections: What have you learned about yourself in the process of studying this subculture? For example, if you researched a comic book store, do you now understand what aspects of the store surprised you or intrigued you? What have you learned about the group you studied or society as a whole?
Instead of giving a comprehensive overview, you should concentrate on specific points. You should not only restate what others have told you, but should develop your own conclusions from your observations. However, all of these conclusions must be supported by observation or existing research on the type of site you are observing (not a requirement).
