Ethnography Vocabulary Quiz

Fieldwork is the process of conducting research in a natural setting — the 'field' — rather than in a laboratory. In ethnography, it typically involves spending an extended period living with or among the people being studied. The ethnographer observes, participates, conducts interviews and builds relationships with community members. Fieldwork is the cornerstone of ethnographic research.

Participant observation is a research method in which the researcher actively participates in the daily activities of the community being studied, while observing and recording behaviour, interactions and cultural practices. By participating rather than merely watching, the researcher gains deeper insider knowledge and accesses aspects of social life not visible to an outsider.

'Thick description', developed by Clifford Geertz from Gilbert Ryle's concept, refers to describing not only observed behaviour but also the context, meaning and significance of that behaviour within the cultural system. A thick description of a wink, for example, would explore what the wink means in its cultural context, rather than simply noting the physical act.

Cultural relativism is the principle that a person's beliefs and practices should be understood in terms of their own culture, rather than by the standards of the observer's culture. In anthropology, it is a methodological stance encouraging researchers to suspend judgement and understand cultural practices on their own terms. It contrasts with ethnocentrism — evaluating other cultures by one's own standards.

An emic perspective describes culture from the insider's point of view, using concepts and meanings that members of the culture themselves use. An etic perspective describes the same phenomena from the outsider's or researcher's point of view, using analytical categories from outside the culture. Both perspectives are valuable and are often used together in ethnography.

Triangulation is a strategy that uses multiple methods, data sources or perspectives to study the same phenomenon, increasing the validity and reliability of findings. In ethnography, a researcher might combine participant observation, interviews and document analysis. The term comes from surveying, where a position is determined from multiple reference points.

Reflexivity is the ethnographer's awareness of and critical reflection on their own position, assumptions and influence on the research process. A reflexive researcher considers how their background might affect what they observe and how they interpret data. It acknowledges that the researcher is never a neutral observer but is always part of the social situation being studied.

Kinship refers to social relationships based on or modelled on family ties — including descent, marriage and broader networks of relatives. Kinship systems organise societies by determining inheritance, residence, marriage rules and social identity. The study of kinship was central to early anthropology, and kinship structures vary significantly across cultures.

A ritual is a formalised, repetitive sequence of actions carrying symbolic meaning within a cultural or religious context. Rituals mark important life transitions, reinforce social bonds and communicate cultural values. Anthropologists study rituals to understand beliefs and social structures; famous analyses include Victor Turner's work on rites of passage.

An informant (now often called a 'research participant' or 'key informant') is a member of the community being studied who provides information and insider knowledge to the researcher. The relationship between ethnographer and informant involves trust, reciprocity and the researcher's responsibility to protect the informant's interests and anonymity.