RESEARCH (Chap 6 book 2)

RESEARCH (Chap 6 book 2)

1. offline research

   • ETHNOGRAPHY
     • INITIALLY USED TO DESCRIBE ANTHRO RESEARCH NOW USED IN MANY DISCIPLINES
       • in depth study of a singular particular setting or multiple settings
         • done via participant obs
           • researcher has the marginal role of observer
             • closeness to the research subject is essential
           • only by being there and participating can researcher fully understand
     • both ethnography and folklore involve study of cultural phenomenon either by eliciting a response or by observation. was a close link between anthropology and folklore in 20th century anthropology moved from looking at past to looking at present.
     • interested in wider phenomenon, ie beliefs and behaviours
       • how these cultural phenomenon relate to other parts of a persons life
         • example
           • Thomas Gregor (1977)
             • ethno study of role laying game 'Women's Sons( bk 2 p 80-81
               • game demonstrates how the children were playing and practicing for adult life
                 • link with role lay and also socialisation process, Bill Corsaro's interperative reproduction v's Annette Laureau Concerted cultivation
   • FOLKLORE TRADITION
     • childhood tradition is part of folklore tradition
     • observation and collection of data in form of questionnarires
       • opeis (p72-) can be linked with childhood culture of play
       • focused on specific types of cultural artefact, main interest was finding corresponding artifacts in different cultures, for example nursery rhymes
         • these artifacts are seperable from the context in which they occur
     • qualitative research methods

2. interviews

   • quantitative data upon which much qualitative data is based
     • structured
       • closed questions, interviewee asked to pick from set pre specified answers
         • PROS
           • answers to standardised questions are less open to interpretation, making interview process and answers a fair result
         • CONS
           • limited scope and less of a researcher/subject relationship establishes
         • quantitative data is produced
     • unstructured
       • open ended questions designed to get informant talking about matters which could be relevant to research subject
         • qualitative data is produced
       • PROS
         • 1) researcher can ask questions based on previous answers, allows participant to raise related topics and take interview in direction they want. This can bring in new ideas for researcher
           • 2) informal nature means participants are more at ease
             • can help establish trust which in research with children in vital
       • CONS
         • researcher can ask leading questions which bias the interview results
   • INTERVIEWS AND CHILDREN
     • tHEY MAY STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS
       • interviewee may not tell the truth as they are embarrassed or want to please the interviewer
         • link can be made with Margaret Mead in bk 1 and criticisms of her study by Derek Freeman p 177

3. RADICAL CRITIQUE OF INTERVIEWS

   • INTERVIEWS PLACE THE FOCUS ON HOW A PERSON BEHAVES IN ONE PLACE AND TIME NOT WHAT THEIR LIVES ARE ACTUALLY LIKE
     • LINKING THIS TO CULTURE - THEY ARE STUDYING WHAT IT MEANS TO BELONG TO A CULTURE IN A PARTICUALR PLACE AND TIME, NOT WHAT TRULY CONSTITUTES A CULTURE
       • SO INORDER TO DISCOVER WHAT IT MEANS TO BELONG TO A CULTURE OR BE THAT PERSON LIVING THEIR LIFE IT IS IMPOTANT TO STUDY ALL DISCURSIVE PRACTICES
         • A PERSON IS MORE THAN THEY PRESENT IN AN INTERVIEW
       • iNTERVIEWS DO NOT EMPLOY THE DETAILED TRANSCRIPTION NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND THEY WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE SAYS THINGS IS SHAPED BY THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
         • SO IT MISSES OUT PAUSES, INDIVIDUAL SPEECH PATTERNS ETC
         • HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR KIND OF ANALYSIS THAT CAN BE CARRIED OUT AND DATA CONSTRUCTION
           • IMPACTS ON ABILITY TO CORRECTLY INTERPRET DATA

4. ONLINE RESEARCH

   • digital media provided researchers with new kinds of data both textual and visual
     • same research methods apply
       • online questionaires
         • p288 Marsh and setting up of online questionaire
       • participant observation
         • p289 Treseder on study of pro anorexic web sites
           • virtual ethnography
     • 3rd research method - the off line observation of children's online participation
       • p289 Wohlwend who set up cameras in afterschool computer room to record children's online activity
         • unlikely to offer evidence about motivations and attitudes

5. ETHICS

   • will young children understand questions, reason behind them?
     • if not how can they give informed consent
       • informed consent from carers may be required
   • researching youth cultures
     • is researcher obliged to report illegal activity
       • legal obligation v's confidentiality