16.4 Ethnography

* (Regarding Chapter 13), which of the research methods listed in Table 13.3 seem the most interesting? Assume you want to study some aspect of deception. Frame a research question. Which method would you choose to answer the question. Why?

I had written this post already when I saw that you changed the questions for this week, Carol. So I decided to post it anyway. I am not expecting any response to this particular posting, though. I know everyone is super busy! :-)

Among all research methods listed in Table 13.3 – page 374 of the textbook, the most interesting to me is Ethnography. I consider this method the most interesting due to the fact that the researcher becomes apart of the group he or she is studying. Also, the fact that the researcher does not impose his or her own assumptions and the conclusions emerge naturally is something fascinating to me.

If, for instance, I was going to study some aspect of deception, let’s say, how some romantic partners deceive each other, my research question would probably be: “what are the communication patterns of romantic partners who deceive each other?” Although it would not be easy to obtain true information from romantic partners who cheat on the other party, I wonder that I would go to places where couples usually go, such as clubs, and I would observe how romantic partners behave when they are accompanied by his or her other half, as well as how they behave when they go to the club without the other half.

I imagine that talking to people in public places would be another interesting way to obtain data for my ethnographic study.

Ibirapuera