Thread by @mikro_drop, okay so twt doesn't need another researcher going off, but I can't [...]

okay so twt doesn't need another researcher going off, but I can't help myself, because this issue of wsj and e.w. is just SO frustrating to me.

so let's talk about ethnographic studies.

this is a qualitative (ie no numbers) data collection method that anthropologists use (1)

(hello! I have my master's :)). specifically, this method is used over an extended period of time by the researcher with a small number of participants from A culture (I will expand on this later).

often times, ethnographic studies take months (if not years) to complete and (2)

involve the researcher being in direct contact with those they are studying. meaning they immerse themselves in the process and observe ALL of the details to get a broader, more holistic, sense of why ppl think and behave the way they do. it can involve interviews, but there (3)

is really a LOT of watching and observation. findings are presented oftentimes (not always) in a narrative fashion, as if you're reading the day-to-day life yourself. you get histories, motivations, practices, traditions, religions, careers, even language in some cases (4)

NOW.

we've been talking a lot about 19 not being representative. I AGREE. truthfully, in the scope of ethnographic research, however, 19 people would be a formidable number to have worked with. that's just the truth.

HOWEVER. what we have seen from this research is not an (5)

ethnographic study.

▪︎1hr interviews doesn't begin to scrape the surface of understanding culture and behavior. did your employer know everything about YOU after you interviewed? I doubt it.

▪︎we are in a pangea so e.w. had NO contact with her participants and did not (6)

get to see their behavior interacting with weverse or see the reactions at the news of new merch dropping. another crucial step violated.

▪︎CULTURE. now this could mean a lot of different things, but let's focus on the fact that the pool of participants are actually not at (7)

all from the same culture. being army is an identifier, and we share certain values (we love bts and support them). however, we don't all speak the same languages, have the same religions, have the same skin colors, or experience the same age-related phenomena at once.. (8)

and I think we can agree, these things all have a large part in shaping who we are and by extension, how we think and how we behave. oftentimes we don't recognize those things, and that's okay! but when you read someone saying things like "recognize your bias" (not member) (9)

this is what we mean. we have biases about everything- some we recognize and some we don't.

I've detracted a bit, and I'm sorry, but it is relevant, I promise.

the point is, as these 19 people are not from the same culture (or even ages), this CANNOT be called a true (11)

ethnographic study.

ethnographic studies are AMAZING. they provide such a wealth of information of ppls and places most of us will never see, hear about, or go to, plus remark on familiar cultures too! and this whole thing has made me so frustrated and the thought of (12)

ppl potentially turning their noses up at ethnography in the future is disheartening. pls know that this was simply not an ethnographic study and how it was ever called this just sends me, as anthro is something I am passionate about and studied for years. (13)

if any of my fellow anthro moots (I know there are a few of you!), or other social science moots have anything to add, I'd be very interested! I certainly haven't covered everything- just wanted to put this out there to defend the name of ethnography and its value. (14 AND SCENE)

Ahhhhh there was no (10) ! My thread is in order I promise hahah I miscounted and proofread everything but the numbers

also, if anyone has questions, I'll do my best to answer them!!!

I am going to mute this for now, but please keep your commentary coming! I will come back to this!! I love all of your thoughts!!

Latest Threads Unrolled: