Ethnographic Research Project

In order to do an ethnography, you need to have a basic question or topic in mind. Remember that research questions can be descriptive or explanatory. Based on your question you can devise a research strategy of interviews, surveys, and/or participant observation, and library research. The suggestions below are meant to help you do this.
 Ethnic groups: Research on cultural differences among two.
 Organizations: service clubs, fan clubs, hobby clubs, churches, fraternities or sororities, convents, political clubs. Why do these organizations exist? What do they do? How are they changing? Study differences between different colleges
(do participant observation and interviews at other place, esp. if you know someone there).
 Events: Conventions, concerts, festivals, sports events, pro wrestling, or anything that looks unique or unusual from your area.
 Activities or Hobbies: Homeschooling, sports (e.g. hunting as rite-of-passage), video gaming or internet chatting, fan groups related to popular culture or other activities, unique religious services such as “healing services” or youth or seeker services.
 Workers: Interview service staff at restaurants or hotels, ask them about observations of different people. Volunteer at an organization, and use your experience and the people you meet.
 Groups of people: immigrants, minorities, other subcultures such as gangs, goths, geeks, jocks, yuppies, “drum circles,” etc. How do they express their identity? What are other group’s perceptions of them? What adjustments do they make to fit into their environment?
 Cultural Change: Interview senior citizens, long-time residents of neighborhoods, store owners, farmers, older graduates of your school, etc. Ask them how life has changed since they were kids, such as school rules, dress codes, favorite hangouts, and other things that interest you. How do they feel their lives have turned out? What would they do differently? Make sure to relate all these changes to wider cultural changes and issues discussed in class.
 Folklore: Analyze local stories that reveal cultural values.
 Cultural Productions: museums and media productions. What values are they
promoting? What is their interpretation of history?
 Issues: Are political or social issues such as racism a concern on campus? What are people’s religious practices and beliefs? What differences are there in gender roles or beliefs about gender roles?
 Places: Ethnography of streets, malls, cities, communities, neighborhoods, trailer parks. How have they changed? How do people get along? Is there crime? Pick a neighborhood or street to study! Pay particular attention to what, if anything, the people who live there have in common with each other. Or focus on a specific question such as the concept of “trailer park trash.” Where does this concept come from and what does it mean? Is there any reality to it? Do neighbors socialize with each other, either through block parties, garage sales, or neighborhood associations? Are there differences in landscaping, home décor, and the use of indoor and outdoor space. In an office, shop, bowling alley, etc. explore the lives of those who play or work together. Do they see each other outside of these work/play situations? Do a study of “corporate culture” (exemplified in “Dilbert” comic strips).
 Family Culture: Do a comparison of families, and discuss reasons for differences, focusing on cultural, not psychological, reasons.

For more ideas, read the local newspaper for announcements about clubs, meetings, events, etc. that might make an interesting ethnographic study. Are there international or other kinds of clubs there where you can meet people for interviews and go to an event or two?
Things to ask about (if relevant or appropriate to your particular topic):
 Ask open-ended questions to give the informant as much freedom as possible to
express themselves.
 Opening question such as “Why do you do this? Why do you belong to this” are
good. Their responses will stimulate other follow-up questions. “Why do they do it?” “What does it mean?” “What values do they represent?” “How is it (they) changing?” are all questions, among many others, that could be kept in mind during this process.