Importance of Ethnographic Researches - Essay Example

Ethnographic Research Ethnographic research is the studying the way people interact in a real world setting rather that in an artificial environment. The aim of this kind of research get insight about how people live, what they do and how they carry on with their professional and daily lives. The techniques in ethnographic research are observation, photographs, interviews and diaries. Observations can be made at home, work or leisure environments. Data collection can be from interviews from a contextual interview of 4 – 5 hours. Ethnographic research is qualitative and not quantitative and it can provide rich insight into real life behavior of people. According to Gov Uk (2013) “Ethnographic research can provide a significant amount of qualitative data, and analysis can be time consuming”. There certain key principles for ethnographic research. Since qualitative research like ethnographic research is not simple like quantitative research it needs to have certain principles to make it successful. These principles are as follows. 1) Grounding – An ethnographic research need to be grounded and should not drift away from reality or established theory. This makes the conclusion more of with assertive value and evidence based and credible. 2) Evolution and Emergence - Exploration enhances the researching ability of the researcher and his interpretation and understanding will tend to evolve. Initial ideas are tentative and can theories finalize only after repetitive exploration. 3) Complexity - The quantitative theories are of a simple nature and can constitute only few variables. The ethnographical research is dense in conceptual nature with many complexities and linkage to the real world. 4) Detail - This research requires strong attention to detail, giving importance to even minute information’s. The construction of a certain sentence spoken or a particular word can be of great importance and if unnoticed can bring variation in results. 5) Generativity– Generating new questions and ideas is an important principal of ethnographic research. This enables the researcher to make appropriate comparison and distinction between items. 6) Immersion - The researcher needs to immerse in the data for an extended period to discover details from the complex situations and information’s. There may be occasions of reflection, reading notes repeatedly and bringing aspects together to achieve at a conclusion, 7) Experience - the experience of the researcher is of importance as his ability in interpretation, gathering data and in personal involvements will allow giving new meaning to the study. 8) Induction and Deduction - Induction and deduction is a crucial aspect of ethnographic research and induction applies to the development of a thesis by reviewing the data. Deduction is the generalization from this hypothesis implying other areas of research. It is needed the after induction and deduction, the conclusion is verified for its credibility. 9) Integration – Last but not least, integration plays a key part in qualitative research as it links fact and co – relate information to form a meaning. This can be done within the study and by using discoveries, concepts and theories. Interview Line 1 ETHNOGRAPHER: Hi, Sam. How are you? Line 2 SAM: Very well. How are things with you? Line 3ETHNOGRAPHER: Fine. Hows school going? Line 4SAM: It is slow; things are nearly getting started in most classes. Line 5 ETHNOGRAPHER: Im really pleased that you could talk to me today. Line 6SAM: Well, Im not sure if I can help you. I am not sure what you want to know. Line 7 ETHNOGRAPHER: Well, as I told you on the phone, I would like to know about your Line 8 work as a cocktail waiter. Youve had quite a bit of experience, havent you? Line 9 SAM: Oh, yes! (laughs) But I dont know if that qualifies me to tell you very much. Line 10 ETHNOGRAPHER: How did you get the job at Gradys Bar? Line 12 SAM: It happened in July, a few years ago. I didnt have any waiter experience before. Line 13 It was by luck that I got the job at all. I visited Gradys one evening with some friends Line 14 and they challenged me I couldnt get a job so I just approached the bartender and asked Line 15 for a job and I got it! I started the job next week. I had only worked part time before during school. Line 16 ETHNOGRAPHER: You know, Sam, Ive seen waiters working in bars and restaurants, Line 17 but as a customer, I believe that what people believe is not true about the nature of Line18 thejob. Line 19 SAM: That is right, Very different. I found that out when I started. Line 20 ETHNOGRAPHER: Well, let me tell you what Im interested in. I would like to Line 21 understand your experience as awaited. I Guess what I want to know is if I got a job at Line 22Gradys Bar and worked there for a year or two, how would I perceive things.)What Line 23 should I know in order to be a good waiter and survive and make sense what is Line 24 happening at work? I am eager to know what you do each night, the problems you face, Line 25 just everything that goes into being a cocktail waiter Line 26 SAM: Well, I could tell you certain things, but Im not sure I can answer all Line 27 your questions. Line 28 ETHNOGRAPHER: Well, let me start with a simple question. Ive never visited Gradys Line 29 Bar and I dont know what happens there at nights. I have never been to other bars, So I Line 30 would like to know about the situation in a bar .Could you explain a beginning of an Line 31 evening, say a typical night at Gradys Bar, and explain to me what goes on? Like, what Line 32 do you do when you first reach your work, then what do you do next? What are some of Line 33 the things you do on usually nights at work, and then go on through your work schedule Line 34 until you walk out of the place? Line 35 SAM: Okay, first I would like to say that theres no typical night at Gradys. Line 36 ETHNOGRAPHER: Hmm, thats fine, just think of any night and tell me what you think Line 37 that usually take place at bar Line 38 Sam: It all depends if I get to work at 7 or 8 oclock. I would almost start at 8.30, Line 39 at least lately. Line 40 ETHNOGRAPHER: Fine, Why dont you explain to me what you would usually do, Line 41 from the start of the evening at 8.30?when you arrive in, until the time you go home Line 42 SAM: I usually get to work at about 7:45. Ill go to the kitchen and sit for a while after Line 43 hanging up by sweater or coat then go back to the bar. I would have a coke and then Line 44 share some jokes with the bartender with someone sitting nearby. If it is busy day then, Line 45 Ill punch in and go straight to work. Mostly, before 9 oclock I punch in and go to my Line 46 waiter station and arrange my tray. Ill take either the upper section or the lower Line 47 depending on what the other waiter wants. Depending on how others are working Line 48 I might say, "Robs on tonight, can I have the lower section?" But he has first chance Line 49since he came in at 7. The lower section is smaller and you get different types of people Line 50 unlike upper section. You get more dates. My section was very interesting last night. It Line 51 was packed. I couldnt even walk with my tray in the late evening, just had to carry one Line 52 drink at a time. Line 53 ETHNOGRAPHER: Really! That would be a difficult situation. Line 54 SAM: (Nods his head) Line 55 ETHNOGRAPHER: You said that you would go to your waiter station and arrange your Line 56 tray. Could you tell me what Is like setting up a tray? Line 57 SAM: Sure. The tray is round like a pizza tray, two ash trays will be on it, one on top Line 58 and another on bottom. My tips will go to the bottom tray and change goes in the top ash Line 59 tray. And the bills will be placed under the ash tray, with the big bills on the bottom. Line 60ETHNOGRAPHER: Okay, that makes sense and probably necessary for not confusing Line 61 with money. I had not thought about that. Line 62 SAM: Yes, when it gets dark and it gets difficult to see. Line 63 ETHNOGRAPHER: Fine, Now, lets get back to the earlier question. Line 64 Youve punched in; get to work, set up your tray and started to work. Could you describe Line 65 what happens next? Line 66 SAM: Well, I will have a look around and see that if anybody wants anything. If Line 67 someone wants something or looks like they need my help Id go right to their table. Line 68 Otherwise Id just walk to the section, set up the tables and pick any bottles which are Line 69 empty, pick ash trays. Then I would and take orders and the entire evening Id be serving Line 70 orders. Line 71 ETHNOGRAPHER: Youve talked about many things you do during a normal evening. Line 72 You punch in, get your tray, pick up bottles, takes orders, clean and serve orders, and Line 73 make last call. Now, this is what you do daily at Gradys Bar? Line 74 SAM: Yeah.. Everynight. Thats what I do. Line 75 ETHNOGRAPHER: Well Thanks for coming today. This has really been informative Line 76 and Im looking forward to learning a great deal more. Line 77 SAM: Well I enjoyed talking about it. Analysis During the course of interview, the participant explained about his experience of job at bar as a waiter. He discussed the way in which the job was procured by the waiter and the nature of job at bar on a normal day. The daily job nature was explained and course of action at work. He gave his previous experience as a waiter and how he got the job. The participant does not seem to be very passionate about his job and was doing it as means to earn money. However, he was not stressed about the job as his working hours were not constraint. The participant seems to have a cordial relationship with the co – workers and had a peaceful atmosphere to work with. Sam does not seem to be futuristic about the job as he is working to pursue his studies. The job has however, given him experience with dealing people and professional ethics and it can understood from the quotation of line - “My tips will go to the bottom tray and change goes in the top ashtray. And the bills will be placed under the ash tray, with the big bills on the bottom”. The participant seems to be professional and serious in working with co – ordination and understanding. Responsibility – The participant seems to be responsible about his job. He is well aware of his job duties and actions and is conscious on things need to be considered on daily basis at bar. He is also responsible for the tips and the way to collect and store in safely. The participant is responsible for the punctuality and reaches work on time. The participant is also responsible for his life and paying for his studies and seems to be a mature person. For instance one of the notes suggest that : “I usually get to work at about 7:45. Ill go to the kitchen and sit for a while after hanging up by sweater or coat then go back to the bar”. Challenge – The participant got this job on the basis of a challenge. The participant seems to be bold and assertive person. The person is challenge taking and likes risks and had a confidence about him. The personality of a person is having a competitive nature and likes to approve his personality. Hardship – The life of the participant reveals the hardships of life and what people do to live their life. The participant seems to be working to earn money so that he could carry on with his studies. The job is not as easy as one thinks and he need to work late nights and mingle with customers who can be disturbing and threatening. However, people like Sam who is young need to work to meet his daily demands. So the person needs to work in undesirable situation to live comfortably and need to take challenges o f life at early ages. Money worries and anxieties tempted him to do a job which is not much passionate about. Work Cited Gov UK. 2013. Ethnographic research. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/user-centered-design/user-research/ethnographic-research.html. [Accessed 15 January 14]. Read More