Ethnographic Research Methods

Course Description

This class will use an in-depth study of ethnographic methods to develop qualitative data collection skills. Ethnography is one type of qualitative research. It uses the study of people in their natural settings to attempt to understand their social world, culture, and the meanings they make of their experiences in social contexts. According to LeCompte and Schensul, "ethnography takes the position that human behavior and the ways in which people construct and make meaning of their worlds and their lives are highly variable and locally specific...[Thus,] ethnographic researchers learn through systematic observation in the 'field,' by interviewing and carefully recording what they see, hear, and observe people doing, while also learning the meanings that people attribute to what they do and the things they make" (LeCompte and Schensul, pp. 1-2). Because ethnographic research is intensive and involves a variety of data collection techniques - observations, interviews, and document analysis - learning ethnography is a good way to explore all of these techniques.

Code

EDUC 8102

Credits

3

Subject

EDUC

Programs That Include This Course

• Doctoral Doctor of Education in Higher Education
• Master's Professional Science Master in Applied Research and Evaluation