Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
05:26
Enactive Phenomenological Approach to the Trier Social Stress Test: A Mixed Methods Point of View
Published on: January 7, 2019
Employing an ethnographic approach: key characteristics.
Veronica Lambert1, Michele Glacken, Mary McCarron
1School of Nursing, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland. Veronica.Lambert@dcu.ie
Nurse Researcher
|December 2, 2011
Summary
This paper outlines six key features of ethnography, a qualitative research method increasingly used by nurses. Understanding these characteristics is crucial for effective application in healthcare settings.
Area of Science:
- Qualitative Research Methodology
- Nursing Research
- Healthcare Communication
Background:
- Ethnography lacks a single, consensual definition or procedure due to its interdisciplinary evolution.
- Recognizing ethnography's core features is essential for its appropriate application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and present the core trademark features of ethnography for researchers.
- To explore challenges encountered when applying ethnographic methods in pediatric healthcare communication.
Main Methods:
- Methodological paper based on a scoping review of ethnographic literature.
- Inclusion of data from textbooks, journal articles, workshops, and expert discussions.
- Focus on identifying core characteristics of ethnographic research.
Main Results:
- Six trademark features of ethnography were identified: naturalism, context, multiple data sources, small case numbers, emic/etic perspectives, and ethical considerations.
- Ethnography is field-oriented with cultural interpretations at its core.
Conclusions:
- While ethnography has diverse meanings and epistemological underpinnings, core features must be considered.
- This work aims to clarify ethnographic methodological processes and encourage sharing of experiences in healthcare research.
Related Concept Videos
02:30Naturalistic Observations
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
01:22Case Studies
There are many research methods available to psychologists in their efforts to understand, describe, and explain behavior and the cognitive and biological processes that underlie it.
01:08Data Collection by Observations
Data collection refers to a systematic way of obtaining, observing, measuring, and analyzing accurate information. Observational studies are one of the most widely used methods of data collection. It involves collecting data by observing the behavior and physical characteristics of a sample without making any modifications to the sample.
An astronomer viewing the motion and brightness of stars in the sky and recording the data is an example of observational data collection. A botanist recording...
An astronomer viewing the motion and brightness of stars in the sky and recording the data is an example of observational data collection. A botanist recording...
01:27Horney's Sociocultural Approach
Karen Horney's psychoanalytic theories emphasize the potential for self-realization and the importance of addressing social and cultural, rather than biological, factors in personality development. She challenged traditional Freudian views, particularly Freud's concept of "penis envy," which she argued stemmed from cultural influences rather than inherent biological differences. Horney believed that any sense of inferiority in women was a result of societal conditioning, such as dependence on...
01:40Archival Research
Some researchers gain access to large amounts of data without interacting with a single research participant. Instead, they use existing records to answer various research questions. This type of research approach is known as archival research. Archival research relies on looking at past records or data sets to look for interesting patterns or relationships. For example, a researcher might access the academic records of all individuals who enrolled in college within the past ten years and...
01:21The Nativist Approach
The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...