Ethnography is described as the branch of anthropology that describes the defined human cultures and societies in the various parameters specific to the communities under the study (Aveling, Parker, & Dixon ‐ Woods, 2016). There are multiple elements of ethnography in various studies. The first element is to learn to introduce the concept in theory without having to involve a lot of jargon (Wolcott, 2016). The language used in the ethnographic studies should be clear and concise to allow the readers to decipher the contents of the research. The second element of ethnography is the evocation of a sense of place (Wolcott, 2016). The analysis performed in the field of ethnography has to be composed of the various settings within the communities across the globe to validate a particular study. The third element of ethnography is the representation of the people involved as whole or embedded bodies (Wolcott, 2016). The various ethnographic studies are allowed to depict human beings as while for instance to study a particular character or trend of behavior trait that multiple people have. The reviews are also entitled to have the same regarding embedded bodies. That is to mean that the ethnographic studies can have various people in society being grouped to represent a particular trait. The other element of ethnography is the rendering of the voices in the research with vividness (Wolcott, 2016). The vividness in one specific text enriches the voices and makes deeper meaning out of them for the sake of the readers. The various topics in ethnographic studies will mostly explain the setting and the flow of the story regarding a particular culture to the point that the readers will understand the various aspects that they are meant to have a grasp. The last element of ethnography is figuring out the best methods of making the ethnographer explain the ethnography in the particular desired manner (Wolcott, 2016). The aspects of ethnography also pay close attention to the sensitivities and ethical considerations for each of the participants.
Elements of Ethnography
Getting Access to the Research Participants
The ethnographers, in their attempt to perform ethnographic studies in the various communities, have to be strategic in their access to the participants intended to be part of the research (Wang, 2013). For instance, in the investigation of how the Mediterranean food reduces depression among the community members, the ethnographic researchers have to identify the Mediterranean communities that make use of their diets to control their depression levels. The analysis of the various communities across the world has necessitated the relevance of ethnographic studies being performed in such societies (Aveling, Parker & Dixon ‐ Woods, 2016). Notwithstanding, the issue of using ethnographic studies for the evaluation of the various behaviors and norms in a particular community of choice comes in at the entry to the research field. Most of the ethnographers make mistakes in accessing the research participants, which may often lead to wrong findings in the studies performed in the various platforms of research on the given community (Algan, 2009). The access of the research participants by the ethnographer has to put into consideration the societal dynamics that are often involved in accessing the research field. The understanding of the community's dynamism before accessing the research participants is another milestone that the ethnographers have to achieve before they can get the right to the access of the research participants within the society (Wang, 2013). Additionally, the observations that the researchers make take them a step closer towards the access of the participants. For instance, the comprehension of the observations made in the Mediterranean ethnicities that make use of their diet to lower levels of depression for the members of the society may bring about the understanding of the various observable characteristics that make their diet suitable for use in the reduction of depression. Therefore, access to the research participants is a process that requires investments in time and effort, which necessitates the various community research on ethnography in terms of the steps.
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The Complexity of the Researcher-Participant Relationship
With the various steps and considerations explained above regarding the access of the research participants, the next step is usually building a more comprehensive and stronger researcher-participant relationship. The researchers in the field of ethnography have to ensure that they create various opportunities for contact with the participants. Continued contact with the participants is recommended to help the researcher establish the various avenues of furthering the research (Wang, 2013). The researchers in the investigation of the role of Mediterranean diets in reducing depression among the members of the community have to establish a point of contact with the research participants to facilitate the collection of data and increase the efficiency of the same (Algan, 2009). After establishing the various points of contact with the research participants, the next step for the researchers is usually to establish the field rules and the management of impressions. At this point, the researcher has already had a rapport with the participants and can comfortably discuss the ground rules of the ethnographic study with them. Examples of rules for the filed research can involve the basic rules that govern the interaction of the participants with the others as well as the researchers. After the field rules are introduced and the field management is observed, the researchers in the field of ethnography head to the observations on how the research participants conduct themselves. The agenda of the participants regarding participation in the research is established to ensure that they do not have hidden personal agendas to take part in the study. The participants' presentation of themselves also includes their conscious decision to take part in the study. The participants' attitudes towards the research also form an essential part of the ethnographic research considerations.
Ethical Considerations
Ethics form an essential part of ethnographic studies (Wang, 2013). One of the ethical considerations that apply to the ethnographic studies in the various communities across the globe is the informed consent (Ryen, 2016). Having informed consent means that the research participants have a say and make their uninfluenced decision on whether they want to be part of the research or not. To have informed consent in the study, a research participant needs to have adequate information on the target of the research and the various limits and parameters that the study is expected to follow. In the cases where the researchers in the field of ethnography have forced the researchers to be involved in a study or have knowingly or unknowingly withheld information that may contribute to the decision-making process regarding the participation in a study, they may find themselves in bad books with the law as well as the moderators of the various research studies performed in ethnographic studies across the globe. The other ethical consideration that is essential in a given ethnographic study is the anonymity and confidentiality of the respondents (Ryen, 2016). Generally, the researchers are responsible for the keeping of the identities of the research participants secret. In that case, their actions may lead to conservation or disclosure of such data to third parties in the case of research, which may expose the respondents to hostility, ridicule, and criticism by the other community members based on being part of the study. Therefore, the researchers are advised to avoid handling the private information of the participants such as their names, residence, and contact information because they may accidentally reveal such information to the unwanted parties. The ethical considerations in the research are responsible for modeling and advancing the relationship between the researchers and the participants.
Assessment of Research Design
The research topic of interest revolves around the research on the ability of the Mediterranean diet to reduce levels of depression among the community members. Ethnographic research design is a proper design for the study based on the given topic. Conventionally, various communities make use of the Mediterranean diets across the globe for example in Mexico, some parts of the United States of America, Spain, Morocco, and Italy. The research design, therefore, fulfills one of the elements of ethnography in that the studies have to evoke a sense of place among the readers. To be more specific during the evocation of place, the researchers have to ensure that they focus on a particular society in the world that uses the Mediterranean diets and the beliefs or facts that surround the ability of their diets to lower cases of depression among the members of the community. The research design will also be appropriate in the analysis of the role of Mediterranean diets in reducing depression in that the introduction of the study will be made in clear and straightforward language for the diversity in readership. That is another element of ethnographic studies that will have been fulfilled. Moreover, the ethnographic research design will encourage the researchers to create vividness in the study, which will be instrumental in the application of the dietary procedures that will be discussed in the research to lower levels of depression in particular communities. Therefore, the research design will ensure that the studies made on the topic of interest fulfill the element of rendering voices in the text to bring out the rich vividness that will enable the readers to gain interest in the research done. Therefore, the ethnographic design of research will be the best method used to facilitate the study based on the Mediterranean diets in the reduction of depression among the community members. The application of ethical considerations will also benefit the research.
References
Algan, E. (2009). What of Ethnography? Television & New Media , 10 (1), 7-9.
Aveling, E. L., Parker, M., & Dixon ‐ Woods, M. (2016). What Is the Role of Individual
Accountability in Patient Safety? A Multi ‐ Site Ethnographic Study. Sociology of Health & Illness , 38 (2), 216-232.
Ryen, A. (2016). Research Ethics and Qualitative Research. Qualitative Research , 31-48.
Wang, X. (2013). The Construction of Researcher–Researched Relationships in School
Ethnography: Doing Research, Participating in the Field, and Reflecting on Ethical Dilemmas. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education , 26 (7), 763-779.
Wolcott, H. F. (2016). Ethnography Lessons: A Primer . Routledge.
