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Ethnography: Challenges and Opportunities Research made simple Evid Based Nurs: first published as 10.1136/eb-2017-102786 on 9 September 2017. Downloaded from Ethnography: challenges and opportunities Janice Jones,1 Joanna Smith2 10.1136/eb-2017-102786 Introduction observation, often complemented with interviews, and Collectively qualitative research is a group of meth- detailed analysis often at a micro level. Although the methods used are not exclusive to ethnography, it is 1Institute of Vocational Learning, odologies, with each approach offering a different the depth of fieldwork and the continuous process of School of Health and Social Care, lens though which to explore, understand, interpret or London South Bank University, explain phenomena in real word contexts and settings. engaging with participants and their natural environ- London, UK This article will provide an overview of one of the ments that is central and adds strength to the find- 6 2Children’s Nursing, School of many qualitative approaches, ethnography, and its rele- ings of ethnographic studies. Participant observation Healthcare, University of Leeds, vance to healthcare. We will use an exemplar based on requires immersion in the setting under investigation, Leeds, UK a study that used participant-as-observer observation and observing the language, behaviours and values of 7 and follow-up interviews to explore how occupational the participants. Consequently, paramount to under- therapists embed spirituality into everyday practice, and taking an ethnographic study is the role of the researcher Correspondence to: offer insights into the future directions of ethnography in data collection. Dr Janice Jones, Institute of Engaging with participants in the real world poses Vocational Learning, School of in response to increased globalisation and technological Health and Social Care, London advances. several challenges; first the researcher must decide South Bank University, London whether to adopt an overt or covert approach to data SE1 0AA, UK; jonesj33@ lsbu. What is ethnography? collection and observation. In an overt approach the ac. uk Qualitative research methodologies are inductive and participants know they are being observed, whereas in focus on meaning; approaches are diverse with different a covert approach the participants are unaware they are purposes, reflecting differing ontological and episte- being observed. The rationale for undertaking covert mological underpinnings.1 With roots in sociology and data collection in healthcare contexts needs careful anthropology, ethnography is one of the early qualitative consideration because of ethical implications, and the approaches and is concerned with learning about people, tensions with the principles of good research gover- in contrast to studying people, through immersion in nance such as the right to choice whether to participate, native populations.2 3 Traditionally ethnography is char- information provision and gaining consent.8 Second, acterised by in-depth observation of groups of individ- the researcher must consider ‘their position’ either as uals, being cognisant of the influences of historical and an ‘insider’ (emic) or ‘outsider’ (etic).5 Broadly, an emic cultural contexts on social interactions.4 This process of approach is aligned with immersing into the culture, immersion in the real world context and detailed anal- observing and recording participants’ way of life and ysis enables the researcher to discover and describe the activity, in contrast to the etic approach that observes complexities and shared cultural nuances of the social and describes communities and cultures (table 1). Both world, and to interpret the meaning of the phenomenon methods produce rich, in-depth data aiming to make http://ebn.bmj.com/ under investigation. Exploring health and care organisa- sense of the context or phenomena under investigation, tions at a macro level can result in better understanding and require the researcher to be reflexive when under- of the processes, activities and practices through the taking fieldwork, accounting for their own assumptions researchers’ observations and engagement with partic- and presuppositions to strengthen the findings.5 ipants and the setting. Although it has been argued that Ethnographic approaches to data collection produce ethnography is purely a data collection method, episte- voluminous unstructured data from a range of sources, mologically it is about immersion in a culture and the for example fieldwork notes, diary entries, memos and, on September 29, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. artistry of seeing, learning and interpreting reality by where appropriate, interview transcripts. The volume engaging with participants, either overtly or covertly in of data can be challenging to analyse and we would their natural environment.3 5 recommend a structured approach such as the frame- work approach.9 The framework approach is rigorous, What research methods do ethnographic logical and transparent, and is particularly suitable to researchers adopt? manage large amounts of textual information, while Ethnographic methods are diverse and a range remaining close to the original data.10 Framework of approaches can be adopted; they are based on approach supports the process of crystallisation, where Table 1 Approaches to participant observation7 Method Approach Complete observer Covert approach, the researcher is detached and invisible to the participants. Observer-as-participant Overt approach, researcher role is to undertake research with brief exposure to collect observation data, often used for exploration in follow-up interviews. Participant-as-observer Overt approach, the researcher aims to integrate into the setting and their role within the context of the study is acknowledged. Complete participant Covert approach, the researcher is fully immersed and integrated into the setting, referred to as going native, without disclosing themselves as a researcher. 98 Evid Based Nurs October 2017 | volume 20 | number 4 | Research made simple Evid Based Nurs: first published as 10.1136/eb-2017-102786 on 9 September 2017. Downloaded from Table 2 Methods, rationale for decision and challenges undertaking ethnographical research Methods Rationale Challenges Being an Adopting an overt insider researcher approach facilitated Although adopting an insider approach strengthened the insider opportunities to collect data during direct care provision relationship between the researcher and participants, and observe practitioners’ interactions with patients. challenges arose when boundaries became blurred. For As an insider, discussions following the period of example, when one participant sought advise in relation observation were illuminating as practitioners explained to the observed practice, the researcher had to step back their actions, which added depth to the data when and re-state the boundaries of the relationship. analysing the observed practice. An insider researcher is often an experienced practitioner in the field of enquiry, in this instance occupational therapy practice, therefore Manindar being reflexive and cognisant of preconceived perceptions about practice was essential to ensure the validity of the findings. Data A participant-as-observer approach to data collection Data saturation can be problematic in ethnographic collection enabled a natural engagement between the researcher studies; pragmatically, data collection often ends when and participants’ real world context. time and resources have been exhausted resulting in Interjections and questions, as appropriate to the withdrawing from the field.2 4 situation, facilitated developing a rapport with The presence of the researcher can influence the participants and ensured the purpose of the research was participants’ behaviour, changing the way they practice clear, adding depth to the data collected. during the observations, known as observer effect or Postobservation discussions and semistructured follow- observer expectancy effect.16 Tensions can arise if the up interviews allowed participants to articulate their researcher perceives the participant is adopting certain views about the observed practice. behaviours—for example, to add prominence to a Field notes and reflective accounts were analysed as part specific aspect of practice. Postobservation discussions of the data. and semistructured follow-up interviews can be used to clarify and explore observations in the field. In addition, detailed field notes, combined with the reflexive approach of the researcher, strengthened the validity of the findings. Data Using the framework approach in a structured and The large amount of unstructured data required a analysis systematic way, to analyse data across multiple sources, transparent and structured approach to data analysis. was central to the rigour of data analysis. In addition, The well documented audit trail, meticulous recording data analysis was an iterative process, which in addition of decisions about emerging categories and themes to constantly revisiting the data included working with strengthened the reliability of the findings. other researchers. Presenting preliminary findings at professional conferences, where assumptions were challenged, strengthened the data analysis. http://ebn.bmj.com/ the multiple facets of an ethnographic study are iter- and adopted strategies to retain their commitment to atively analysed, and constantly reviewed to identify holistic, person-centred practice.11 patterns and associations across the data.9 While
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