Ethnography
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Summary
Ethnography is a broad approach to research characterised by the central role of the researcher and the use of multiple data collection methods, including interviewing and observation. Ethnographers try to get 'inside' social worlds and see them 'through the eyes' of research subjects in order to understand and explain them in all their richness, complexity and specificity. This course introduces ethnographic research and guides you through project design, data collection and data analysis.
Course content
Because of the centrality of the researcher and the importance of observation, the term participant observation is often used as a near-synonym for ethnography. Although many ethnographies draw on a combination of quantitative and qualitative data, ethnography tends to be associated with qualitative research and this course focuses on qualitative data collection and analysis, including the approach known as ‘grounded theory’.
Researchers often look to ethnography for a qualitative approach that will enable them to capture something of the totality and complexity of their chosen research situation or the perspectives of their participants. This course is directed broadly towards a postgraduate researcher who has these interests. It will prepare you to design and conduct your own independent research and enable you to develop some of the necessary practical skills. But ethnography cannot be understood without reference to theory. There is no rigid link between a particular research aim (e.g. to test an existing theory or develop a new one), a method of data collection (e.g. interviewing or participant observation) and an approach to data analysis; and, equally, no one of these implies particular epistemological assumptions, such as whether the research findings are a description of (someone’s) reality. These complexities need to be unravelled afresh for each new ethnographic project, and exploring them is part of the course.
Contemporary ethnographic research encompasses a range of practical methods and theoretical approaches. It has been used to investigate social processes, particular social groups and subcultures, and specific settings or contexts such as workplaces and schools. The course reader presents a selection of recent ethnographic studies to demonstrate some of this variety. You will read them in conjunction with the set book and study guide exercises. Additional material is presented in audio recordings.
The other main element of the course is practical work on data collection and analysis. The study guide activities introduce different methods of data collection (including observation and interviewing) and analysis. Part of the later assignment work requires you to draw on these activities, as well as on the reading, to present critical accounts of data collection and data analysis.
Vocational relevance
Ethnography and related qualitative research approaches are important across the social sciences and related disciplines, such as education and development studies. This course provides essential training in research methods for advanced students, especially those who intend to take advanced degrees. In professional and commercial contexts, it is relevant to anyone who has to collect and analyse qualitative data (through interviews, for instance) or to evaluate studies and reports based on such data.
Entry
You must hold a UK honours degree (or equivalent) ideally, though not necessarily, in the subject you wish to pursue. It would be helpful, but it is not necessary, to have studied qualitative research methods at undergraduate level.
It is expected that you will commence your studies with the preferred postgraduate foundation course for the qualification you are studying towards, either Investigating the psychological world (D821) or Investigating the social world (D822) or Introduction to research: basic skills and survey methods (DT840) (please refer to the relevant qualification description).
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, or whether your subject knowledge and study skills are adequate for study at this level, please contact the Postgraduate Studies in Social Sciences Learner Support Team at the OU in Yorkshire (telephone 0113 234 1225, or email).
Preparatory work
Most research methods texts have chapters on ethnography, and it would be useful to look at one or two, such as:
T. May (2001) Social Research: Issues, Methods and Process, 3rd edition, Open University Press: particularly chapters 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7.
An excellent, more detailed guide to analysis is:
D. Silverman (2006) Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analysing Talk, Text and Interaction, 3rd edition, Sage.
Qualifications
D844 is a compulsory course in our
- Postgraduate Diploma in Social Research Methods (E12)
- MSc in Research Methods for Educational Technology (F22)
- MSc in Social Research Methods (F24)
D844 is an optional course in our
- Postgraduate Certificate in Social Sciences (C24)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Criminal Justice (E14)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Human Geography Research Methods (E16)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Research Methods (E11)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Business Research Methods (E26)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Psychological Studies (E34)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Social Policy and Criminology (E48)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Social Sciences (D41)
- MA in Cultural and Media Studies (F17)
- MA in Social Policy and Criminology (F18)
- MA in Social Sciences (F09)
- MSc in Management and Business Research Methods (F34)
- MSc in Psychological Research Methods (F20)
- MSc in Psychology (F15)
- MSc in Human Geography Research Methods (F35)
- MSc in Technology Strategy Research (F23)
- MSc in Forensic Psychology and Criminology (F49)
D844 together with either the foundation course Investigating the psychological world (D821) or Investigating the social world (D822) (or the discontinued course D820) will qualify you for a Postgraduate Certificate in Social Sciences and with an additional 60 points of specified courses for a Postgraduate Diploma.
Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Part of the course material is presented in audio recordings. There are practical activities that require interviewing and observation, although some selection is possible. For more details ask the Course Chair at the Social Sciences Faculty, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course reader, study guide, other printed materials, audio CDs.
You will need
A CD player.
Computing requirements
This course has online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Materials to buy
Set books
- Hammersley, Martyn Ethnography: Principles in Practice (3rd edn), Routledge £26.99 - ISBN 9780415396059
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. Your tutor may not be local, so your contact will probably be by correspondence, email or telephone. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit some of your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs). Your assignment booklet will tell you which method of submission you should use for each assignment.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May 2009. We expect it to be available once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
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A postgraduate course in Business and Management, Education, Psychology and Social Sciences.
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Student Reviews
This was a very goood introductory starter for doing qualitative research. The hands on element and experience of data collection ...
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Quite a nice easy course. It's short but there was a long time between the end of the course and ...
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