Methods
of ethnographic research
The leading method of collecting ethnographic data is the method of
direct observation. However, given the affiliation of Ethnography to historical
Sciences, the ethnographic source can be either a field (forwarding) materials
and facts collected related Humanities and social Sciences.
The most complete and valuable ethnographic materials were extracted by
the method of field researches, which is called stationary. It is associated
with prolonged stay and getting used in the investigated ethnic environment.
The term stationary work must be ethnographic year that the eminent Soviet
ethnographer V. G. Bogoraza is determined at two to three months more than
calendar year. The increase of the period of work for two or three months is
between initial acquaintance and adaptation to new conditions. After which the
ethnographer observes ethnic community or part thereof in all time periods of
the annual cycle.
In practice, there are the following methods of study of Ethnography:
field Ethnography, interviewing, observation, questionnaires, interviews,
method of remnants, structural-functional, comparative-historical, typological
and component.Существует два основных метода этнографических наблюдений:
1) Stationary, giving the opportunity to connect with people, to learn and
to deeply investigate the peculiarities of its culture and way of life. In this
method, it is necessary to carefully choose the area of observation in the
ethnographic relation of the most interesting and little studied and to give a
comprehensive description of the planned research facilities. The stationary
method will provide the opportunity to engage in such critical themes of great
importance for Soviet Ethnography, as a monographic study of the farm or
fishing cooperatives, their economy, social, life, and home life. The same
crucial question is the ethnographic study of the culture and life of the
workers of individual factories, plants, mines, forestry, etc.
2) the Routing method is applied in the study of phenomena on a large area
and in comparison with the first is not very effective for the study of social
relations. When the route method work we need to identify I—2 themes, the most
characteristic and interesting for the area and, by focusing attention to them,
explore completely all the varieties of this phenomenon over a large territory.
If the work involved several people, it is possible to identify several themes.
Before field work need to be familiar with the basic ethnographic
literature for this area and on the issues that are emerging for research, then
develop a work plan and route. It is desirable to make also a detailed
questionnaire on the basis of reading the ethnographic literature and in
consultation with a specialist on the subject matter so as not to miss anything
important and perhaps explore the topic more fully. A necessary condition for
the successful work of the ethnographer-researcher is his rapprochement with
the population. Easier all this can be achieved by involving themselves in
daily life and work of the local population. Visitor researcher, which behaves
in the farm in the busy season of field work outside, distracting from the case
of farmers asking the question, you will not win trust and respect of the
population. The study area should start with the regional or district center.
It is desirable that the ethnographer himself watched the phenomenon being
studied, eg., studying the hunt, met with local hunters, went along with them
to hunt; or, watching the spring fishing, detailed it and then has been
ascertained by questioning the features and difference of summer and winter
fishing. Get the information you need to check with the questioning of several
persons, to record the story of each person, and then recorded individually
established fact. Watching any aspect of modern life farm, you need to ask the
elderly, what was this phenomenon in the past, what changes occurred at different
times. So, when studying people's wedding ceremony, where it is still
preserved, it is desirable that the researcher himself visited several
weddings, by questioning, learned the meaning and significance of all the
details of the rite, the role of the individual participants, the content of
the songs, especially wedding clothes, decoration of the festive table and
meal, and also noted the words of the elderly, as this ceremony was done in the
old days, how it was prepared, who had no right to attend.
Field Ethnography - the study conducted
among the living peoples to gather original ethnographic data about particular
structural components of the traditional and everyday Culture and their
functioning as a system. Ethnographic field practice, aimed at gathering
good-quality of material - source of scientific knowledge - claims following
methods: poll - work with reasonably chosen by the informant or informant in a
given ethnic community; the experiment - participation of the ethnographer in a
social or family event, ceremony, event, naturally arose during the
expeditionary work; supervision - thorough examination and fixing all complex
ethically distinctive culture and way of life.
Observation
method
of data collection based on direct contact of the researcher and object of
study. The development of Ethnography as science was associated with the
transition from gathering private information about the culture of the peoples
to a stationary observation in which the researcher lives long enough among the
target groups. Distinguish between simple and participant observation (in the
first case, the researcher "passive" captures the relevant data, and
the second penetrates the study group and participates in its activities. In
the last time of observation is usually used as one element of the fieldwork
expeditions carried out in a specially designed program using the standard
symbolic methods of fixing the elements of rituals, dance, etc. Surveillance
may be conducted for actions, as individuals and groups (for example, in the
administration of the rite). In the process of observation is increasingly used
technical recorder: voice recorders, cameras and video recorders.
The
survey is one
of the main methods for primary data collection in the ethnographic and ethno-sociological
study, along with observation and analysis of documents. The survey is based on
socio-psychological interaction of the researcher and the Respondent. Obtaining
verbal information is performed by means of a questionnaire directly during an
interview or indirectly through questionnaires. As the ethnographic method of
survey is usually in the form of individual conversations with the informant at
a pre-made program or without it. Since 1960-ies in Ethnography and
ethnosociology widespread mass representative surveys, bearing static in nature
and require analysis of the information obtained the application of mathematics
and computers.
Interview
along with the survey one type of survey with
ethnographic and ethno-sociological studies. In contrast to the observations
and the survey interview involves a personal conversation between the
researcher and the Respondent. Interview is formalized based on a predetermined
questionnaire), semi-structured and open when pre-outlined only the main
conversation. In ethnosociology often used semi-structured program interview
and Ethnography - open. The quality of the information obtained in the
interview process, depending on the program survey and from the interaction of
the researcher and the Respondent. When ethno-sociological study of ethnic
orientations plays an important role, for example, the ratio of the nationality
of the researcher and the Respondent.
Литература:
1.Обручев С.В. «Справочник путешественника и
краеведа». том 2.
2.Учебник
/ Под ред. Ю. В. Бромлея и Г. Е. Маркова. —М.: Высш. школа, 1982. — 320 с, ил.
3.Ю. В.
Бромлей
Современные проблемы этнографии (очерки и истории). -
М., 1981.