In addition to ethnographic methods, anthropological analytical approaches and frameworks are applicable to problem-solving, design, and policy questions across various sectors. Even when the concepts and theories themselves are beyond the scope of a report, the insights that applying them brings are crucial.
Framing is key for understanding issues, recognizing contributing factors, and translating experiences. Framing also plays a role in how we approach teaching ethnographic data analysis. When I began teaching the application of theory in upper-division courses, a common struggle that students shared with me was deciding how to select what framework or theory to use, especially when there were seemingly various current or viable options to choose from. One teaching strategy that was helpful was using a relatable analogy of “finding the right fit” in terms of clothes shopping to frame or explain the process (Ricke 2018). Similar to shopping, we want to find the closest match, the one that fits and explains the context and statements as close as possible and when we come up a little short, we make alterations or propose an alternate.
Below are some free online resources that instructors and learners alike can use to help with the transition from summary to analysis and applying theory to ethnographic data. These are “appetizers” and are not intended be an exhaustive or comprehensive list.
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Different Analyses: Introductory How-To Videos
Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis (Theme Identification, Coding & Content Analysis, Word Based Analysis, Grounded Theory) Methods4All By Amber Wutich, Melissa Beresford, Meg du Bray
Relational and Quantitative Analysis (Relational, Social Network, Whole Network, Personal Network, Spatial Analysis, Agent Based Modeling) Methods4All By Amber Wutich, Lance Gravlee, Jeffrey Johnson, Steve Borgatti, Chris McCarty, Eduardo Brondizio, Mark Mortiz
Cultural Domain Analysis (Freelists, Pile Sorts, Cultural Consensus, & Con