Ethnographic Methods

Examine the advantages and disadvantages of using ethnographic methods for sociological research I am going to look at the advantages and disadvantages of using ethnographic methods for sociological research. Ethnography is in-depth research into nations lives through the character of immemorial data such as Observations and Interviews, and as well secondary data such as diaries, and official documents. The first method of research I am going to look at is a primary(a) research method that is unstructured discourses.There are a few advantages to unstructured interviews such as if a researcher is going to conduct and unstructured interview past the participant is more probably to discuss sensitive culture with them, this is because they may feel that the interviewer is sympathetic and understanding and so are more likely to open up towards them. A nonher advantage is that it leave alones people to explain their answers boost if they need to, for example with questionnair es the mortal answering may not be able to explain why they put that answer, and so their point is not put across as they would like to have been.There are also or so disadvantages to unstructured interviews such as it takes time and can bell a lot of money although this method is very effective at finding out detailed information about a person and their life, it can take a lot of time to conduct an interview and even longer as it is unstructured so the interviewer can aim as many questions as they like it could cost quite a lot as you might need to hire an office to do so, and if you need to interview a lot of people over a few days the cost could rise very quickly.Also interview deviate is another disadvantage this means that the interviewer can ask questions that can catch the answer, which then affects the outcome of the results. Interviewer bias can be illustrated through the use of leading questions for example Do you get on well with your stereotype? this question ca n make the interviewee question their relationship with their boss, and subtly raises the setting that maybe they dont get on with their boss. other method of primary research surreptitious expression, this involves the researcher joining the group that they are studying, and in screening observation the researcher does not tell them or every(prenominal)ow them to find out their true identity. There are some advantages to covert observation such as it has high validity, as the researcher gets first-hand information about the people they are studying.This is a major advantage to covert observation because if this was done by someone else it may not be on the exact same topic and so not all the information they need is there. Another advantage of this method is that it avoids the observer effect, which is that people change their behaviour when they know they are being observed, and this would not fancy a true reflection of what they are really like.Some disadvantages to covert observation is that the participants are unaware of the experiment and so this is an ethical issue, as some people may not have wanted to be a part of the experiment, and if they find out that they are they could try and sue the researcher. Another disadvantage of this method is that the researcher could become influenced by the group and when paternity their findings down it could be in favour or prejudiced against the group.