Initiating ethnographic research : a mixed methods approach / Stephen L. Schensul, Jean J. Schensul, and Margaret D. LeCompte.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Schensul, Stephen L.

Contributor:

Schensul, Jean J.

LeCompte, Margaret Diane

George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

Series:

Ethnographer's toolkit ; 2.

Ethnographer's toolkit ; 2

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ethnology--Methodology.

Ethnology.

Ethnology--Research.

Ethnology--Fieldwork.

Physical Description:

xix, 247 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : AltaMira Press, [2013]

Summary:

The second edition of the Ethnographer's Toolkit is designed with the novice field researcher in mind. In this revised and updated version, the authors of the Toolkit take the reader through a series of seven books that spell out the steps involved in doing ethnographic research in community and institutional settings. Using simple, reader-friendly language, the Toolkit includes case studies, examples, illustrations, checklists, key points, and additional resources. The Toolkit is the perfect starting point for students and faculty in the social sciences, public health, education, environmental studies, allied health, and nursing, who may be new to ethnographic research. It also introduces professionals from diverse fields to the use of observation, assessment, and evaluation for practical ways to improve programs and achieve better service outcomes.

Initiating Ethnographic Research: A Mixed Methods Approach is the first book of its kind. It explores in depth the many critical issues that ethnographic researchers need to consider before going into the field and in the earliest stages of the field experience. These include preparation of self, establishing relationships that ensure access to the field, and steps in the construction of a formative theoretical model that will inform the entire research process. The first three chapters describe why ethnography should be considered a mixed methods approach to social science research, why theory is important in guiding a study, and the important institutional and personal preparations required to do fieldwork. Additional chapters debunk the idea that ethnographers always enter the field with their minds a "clean slate" regarding what they will find. They show why and how researchers can develop initial theoretical models based on local knowledge and literature reviews. Ethnography uses a holistic approach, so such models consider both individual/population and systemic or structural considerations. They lead the way to integrating ecological, empirical, critical, and interpretivist approaches into a comprehensive analysis of a dynamic system. Two chapters also provide detailed examples to illustrate the connection between steps in the modeling process, creation of observational measures, and steps in data collection. The final chapter shows how the modeling process can be extended to guide the development of interventions and change strategies at multiple levels. A wide variety of diagrams, instructions, case examples, and illustrations make the topics and processes covered easy to read and understand, even by novices. Overall Book 2 offers a unique mixed methods lens through which to build theory by engaging in research modeling, to enter the field to set up to gather data and to anticipate influencing change. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Initiating Ethnographic Research: Models, Methods, and Measurement 1

Introduction 1

Ethnography Is Both Inductive and Deductive 4

Ethnography Is Both Qualitative and Quantitative 7

Ethnography Operates at the Micro and Macro Level 10

Ethnography Examines Reported and Observed Behavior 13

Ethnography Involve Discovery and Representativeness 14

Ethnography Is Both Theory and Description 16

Objectivity and Subjectivity 18

Basic and Applied Research 19

Summary 21

Chapter 2 Selecting a Research Site and Focus 23

Introduction 23

The Researcher Personal Interest and History 24

Researcher Identity 27

Researcher Positionality 34

Requirements of Institutional Affiliation and Funding Sources 37

Perspectives, Needs, and Priorities of the Study Population 42

Summary 43

Chapter 3 Preparing for Challenges in the Field 45

The Research Game Plan or Proposal 45

Formal Permissions and Approvals; IRBs and Other Review Bodies 55

Logistics: Support, Housing, and Other Needs 57

Sponsoring Institutions in the Research Site 60

Time and Timeline 68

Personnel: Hiring and Supervision 74

Preparing for the Collection, Transcription, and Management of Data 76

Planning for Writing Up Preliminary Results in the Field 77

Summary 78

Chapter 4 The Ethnographer as Theorist: An Introduction to Modeling Midrange Theory 81

Introduction 81

The Ethnographer as Theorist 84

Selecting a Paradigm 92

Defining Research Questions and Building a Formative or Local Theory 93

Summary 101

Chapter 5 Constructing Formative Research Models 103

Introduction 103

Developing a Formative Model: Top Down/Bottom Up Construction 104

Dependent and Independent Domains 110

Diagramming and Modeling the Formative Research Model 125

A Note on Generating Hypotheses 129

Summary 130

Chapter 6 Operationalization and Measurement 133

Operationalization 133

Using the Research Model to Frame Research Goals, Objectives, and Hypotheses 145

Linking Stages in Research Design with Stages in Data Collection 149

Summary 153

Chapter 7 Mixed Methods Models, Measures, and Case Examples 155

Introduction 155

Definitions of Mixed Methods Research 156

When Should Qualitative and Quantitative Methods Be Used? 159

Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods 161

Relating or Sequencing of Multiple Methodologies: Models, Methods, Measures, and Case Examples 171

The Role of Secondary Data in Mixed Methods Ethnography 181

Summary 184

Chapter 8 Modeling Ethnographic Intervention Approaches 185

Introduction 185

Definitions of Intervention 188

Ethnographic Intervention Designs 192

Guidelines for Modeling Interventions 193

Steps in Designing Interventions: A Systems Analytic Approach to Using Modeling Techniques 198

Linking Resources for Change to the Independent Variables: Systems Analysis as a "2 × 2 Table" 204

Operationalizing the Intervention Model 210

Summary 214.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

ISBN:

9780759122017

0759122016

9780759122024

0759122024

OCLC:

794708273

Publisher Number:

99952000206

40021844566