One approach in qualitative research is ethnographic research. Ethnographic is derived from the word ‘ethnic’ means society or all the things related to society (custom and culture), as society is made of custom and culture, and ‘graphic’ means a writing or research. Then it can be said that, ethnographic is a part or approach in qualitative research within the ethnics or society. Thus, ethnographic is the research on culture and absolutely related to anthropology.
The goal of ethnographic research was to describe, analyze, and interpret the culture of a group, overtime, in terms of group’s shared beliefs, behaviors and language (Gay, 2006:441). The ethnographic research technique applied the participant observation method of active observer, a privilege observer (Gay, 2006:446-447). Best (1993:113) also stated that the ethnographic study is a qualitative approach employing few, if any, quantitative data-gathering instrument. Using the methods of participant observation, the researcher observes, listens to, and converses with the subjects in as free and natural an atmosphere as possible.
As it is seen in the two books above, Gay mentioned ethnographic as a technique while Best mentioned it as an approach. But in its observation, the research is done in the same method as this ethnographic is a part of qualitative research that is always related to words and customs.
Sources:
Gay, L. R., Mills, E. Geoffrey., and Airasian, Peter. 2006. Educational Research Competencies for Analysis and Applications. Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.
Best, John.W. 1981. Research in Education: Fourth Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall,INC., Englewood Cliffs.
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