Survey and Ethnography as Strategies for Data Collection - Assignment Example

Final exam Question Ethnography refers to a method of data collection, which is mainly centered on the culture of a people. Itentails living with the people whom a researcher is collecting data about, so that the researcher can gather full information from them, not only based on observing their cultures and lifestyles, but also practicing and adopting them during the research period (Taylor, 27). This research method allows the researcher to gain a full understanding of the subjects, as opposed to other research methodologies, where the interaction with the subjects is limited to data collection only. Survey on the other hand refers to a non-experimental research method that is descriptive in nature, which is applied when a researcher is collecting information on a phenomenon that cannot be directly observed (Fowler, 54). Comparison between survey and Ethnography as strategies for data collection Both Survey and Ethnography allows for the collection of data that is not collectable through many other methods of observation. They allow a researcher to collect information such as the opinions and attitudes of people regarding a certain subject, which cannot be collected through mere observation (Taylor, 33). The other comparison between both strategies of data collection is that they can apply multiple methods of data collection, which may entail observation and interviewing. Both methods allows for the researchers to obtain firsthand information, since the researcher in both Survey and Ethnography strategies of data collection, can observe the subjects in their natural setting and make a conclusion about the social characteristics of such groups of people. Both methods are highly subjective, since they entail the formation of an opinion by the researcher regarding the phenomenon they are observing in a sample (Fowler, 57). Contrast between survey and Ethnography as strategies for data collection There are various points of contrast between survey and Ethnography as strategies for data collection. First, while Ethnography is a purely qualitative method of data collection, which entails observing the subjects in their natural settings and then collecting the desired information, survey research method can combine both qualitative and quantitative techniques of research (Taylor, 45). The other difference is the fact that, while survey entails determining the sample from which the data is to be collected and then collecting the data from that sample using several methods such as interviews, observation and questionnaires, Ethnography entails living among the people from whom the data is collected, and behaving as one of them, through acting not as a research participant as would happen in a survey, but as a member of the group (Taylor, 48). The other point of contrast is the issue of time. While Survey as a research method can collect the required data from a sample within a relatively short time, ranging from minutes to hours, the case is different for Ethnography research methods. This method requires the researcher to remain among the subjects for a relatively longer period, so that they can understand them fully (Taylor, 23). Finally, the contrast between Ethnography and survey research methods is the fact that, Ethnography allows for the researcher to gather information that is normally hidden from the public lame light, since the researcher lives among the people, thus understanding every aspect of their life, even that which is not portrayed publicly. This is different with survey, which is primarily dependent on the information given by the respondents or the behaviors portrayed by such subjects publicly (Fowler, 62). While undertaking either Ethnography or Survey research, the most suitable sampling technique to be applied is random sampling technique. This is because; random sampling is less prone to bias, since it does not give a researcher the opportunity to evaluate any characteristics related to the subjects before determining their samples. It entails a sample selection based on pure random behavior, where the researcher has to collect information from the sample that falls under the random categorization (Taylor, 41). This ensures that the sample obtained is more representative and that the results obtained are valid and reliable. Question 2 The American Sociologists Association has provided certain guiding principles that should be applied by researcher while undertaking their research. The principles from the ASA Code of Ethics that any researcher should observe include: Professionalism and competence This guiding principle requires that researcher should apply professionalism and competency while collecting data, through ensuring that they use the appropriate technical, professional and scientific resources to undertake a research, so that the results of such studies become reliable and valid (Hunter, 23). This principle is essential for any researcher because, when the researchers fail to use the appropriate research resources that include the data collection tools, they run at a risk of presenting findings that are not valid. It is also important that the researchers are competent, so that they can avoid being too subjective on certain issues, which they would have otherwise obtained direct response from the respondents, if they were competent. Integrity This is another vital guiding code of ethics provided by ASA that any researcher should adhere to. This guiding principle requires that all researchers are honest and fair while undertaking their studies (Hunter, 17). The application of the principle of integrity ensures that the researchers do not subject themselves or others involved in a research process into acts that jeopardize their welfare (Hunter, 12). Therefore, they avoid involving in any aspect that is false, misleading or deceiving in their research process. This is essential to ensure that the researchers do not modify the results obtained from their research to suit their own perspective or opinion, while disallowing the rightful picture of the research findings to be portrayed. Social Responsibility This is yet another vital ASA code of ethics that any researcher should apply in their research. This code requires that the researcher will make the findings and the results of their studies public, so that they can be of use to the society, in solving the problems underlying the society, as identified by the researcher (Hunter, 22). How is the Code of Ethnic enforced? The ASA code of ethics is enforced through a body constituted and referred to as the ASA Committee on Professional Ethics (Hunter, 40). This body has set the rules and regulations that describe the process of investigating, resolving complaints and firing individual researchers involved in unethical conducts. This is the body mandated to investigate any failure of the researcher and sociologists to adhere to the codes of ethics as set by ASA, and then resolve the issue by punish them accordingly (Hunter, 36). Works Cited Fowler, Floyd J. Survey Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications, 2002. Print. Hunter, Elizabeth R. The Relevance of the A.S.A. Code of Ethics. , 1979. Print. Taylor, Stephanie. Ethnographic Research: A Reader. London: SAGE Publications, 2002. Print. Read More