In search for the essence of ethnography

Abstract

In june 16, 2003 Harry Wolcott gave ";;The Bornemouth talk revisited for Medellín";; lecture. The talk deals with search for the essence of ethnography and answers the question ";;what makes a study ethnographic?";;

The lecturer in his carreer has identified twelve attributes that can reasonably be expected in a ethnographic report. Therefore ethnography is holistc, compatative, of first- hand experience, conduced in natural setting, requires intimate and long- term acquaintance, is non evaluative, basically descriptive, specific, adaptive, corroborative and finally idiosyncratic and individualistic.

All those attributes are discussed in the lecture with the warning that there is no absolute set of attributes. Then he could conclude that anyone can borrow the research techniques, and we all draw our data from everyday experience, both our own and of others. The result is far more likely to produce ethnography when a researcher sets out to create ethnography and has a clear idea of what is involved.

Key words: Ethonography, Context, Ethnograpers, Qualitative Research.