Field and Text in Ethnography

Ethnography developed as a research strategy that was based on long-term immersion among a population of interest in a research community, where the basic method of data collection was Participation-Observation resulting in Field Notes(FIELD), followed by detailed analysis/analyses and written reporting of research findings (TEXT). This strategy for "embedded" co-presence evolved over time to become the basis for selective techniques often labeled Ethnographic Methods, such as formal interviews (e.g., Life Story; Local Expert-Consultant; Focus Group; Community Panel)and formal observations (e.g., Community Walk-About; Random Time Allocation; Peak Activity Logs; Dispersion of Sites), as well as continuing utilization of informal methods, whatever they might be (e.g., establishing rapport by hanging-out or running errands/providing transportation, talking casually without a prior arrangement, etc.). This introduction to the workshop will emphasize that portion of ethnography that represents FIELD, and later segments will explore aspects of ethnography that lead to analysis and model construction (TEXT).