What does ethnography primarily involve?

Ethnography primarily involves living with and observing a society in order to gain a deep, insightful understanding of their culture, practices, and social interactions. This qualitative research method allows the researcher to immerse themselves in the community they are studying, often spending extended periods of time in the field. By engaging directly with participants, ethnographers can gather nuanced data through participant observation, informal discussions, and everyday interactions, which provides a rich and comprehensive picture of the dynamics within that society. This depth of understanding is what sets ethnography apart from other research methods, as it emphasizes firsthand experience and context over mere quantitative analysis or surface-level observations.

Other options, such as surveying large populations or conducting structured interviews, focus more on collecting data through standardized methods that may lack the depth and contextual understanding that ethnography offers. Analyzing existing literature, while valuable for background and context, does not involve direct engagement with the subjects studied, making it distinct from the immersive approach of ethnographic research.