Queens Presentation

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Using EthnographicUsing Ethnographic
Methodology inMethodology in
Theological ResearchTheological Research
Joshva RajaJoshva Raja
Queens 2015Queens 2015

2. Moatsu FestivalMoatsu Festival
 One of my PhD students in India wanted to do a research on theOne of my PhD students in India wanted to do a research on the
dance festival in Nagaland among Ao Tribes. This harvestdance festival in Nagaland among Ao Tribes. This harvest
festival happens once a year, but similar dances are performedfestival happens once a year, but similar dances are performed
for other festivals too. Many of the Ao tribal communityfor other festivals too. Many of the Ao tribal community
members are Christians but go to different churches on Sundays.members are Christians but go to different churches on Sundays.
Particularly Baptists and Catholics can communicate via loudParticularly Baptists and Catholics can communicate via loud
speakers on Sundays at times speaking against other churchesspeakers on Sundays at times speaking against other churches
and asking their members not to relate and communicate withand asking their members not to relate and communicate with
other denominations at all. While this dance brings peopleother denominations at all. While this dance brings people
together and expect them to share their stories of being united astogether and expect them to share their stories of being united as
community. So he argues that the future of ecumenism iscommunity. So he argues that the future of ecumenism is
possible more via cultural than ecclesial means.possible more via cultural than ecclesial means.
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Ethnography defined…Ethnography defined…

""When used as a method, ethnographyWhen used as a method, ethnography
typically refers to fieldwork (alternatively,typically refers to fieldwork (alternatively,
participant-observation) conducted by a singleparticipant-observation) conducted by a single
investigator who 'lives with and lives like'investigator who 'lives with and lives like'
those who are studied, usually for a year orthose who are studied, usually for a year or
more." --John Van Maanen, 1996.more." --John Van Maanen, 1996.
 "Ethnography literally means 'a portrait of a"Ethnography literally means 'a portrait of a
people.' An ethnography is a writtenpeople.' An ethnography is a written
description of a particular culture - thedescription of a particular culture - the
customs, beliefs, and behavior - based oncustoms, beliefs, and behavior - based on
information collected through fieldwork."information collected through fieldwork."
--Marvin Harris and Orna Johnson, 2000.--Marvin Harris and Orna Johnson, 2000.

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Participating and Observing asParticipating and Observing as
an outsider as wellan outsider as well

7. The researcher/ethnographerThe researcher/ethnographer
 Participated in the dance (as insider)Participated in the dance (as insider)
 Observed events and take notes (recordedObserved events and take notes (recorded
audio-visual, smell, feeling, artefacts used,audio-visual, smell, feeling, artefacts used,
movements, seen, taste, heard, other aspects)movements, seen, taste, heard, other aspects)
 Interviewed other participants for oral textsInterviewed other participants for oral texts
 Returned to verify, frequency, similaritiesReturned to verify, frequency, similarities
 Asked people to Interpret and identify themesAsked people to Interpret and identify themes
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An iceberg as an analogy of cultureAn iceberg as an analogy of culture

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From Gary Weaver inFrom Gary Weaver in Culture, Communication and Conflict: Readings in Intercultural RelationsCulture, Communication and Conflict: Readings in Intercultural Relations

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To discover and describe fromTo discover and describe from
behaviour the accepted common sensebehaviour the accepted common sense
of a communityof a community

11. Differences to observeSome drinkDifferences to observeSome drink
and Some Don’tand Some Don’t

12. Some cross boundaries?Some cross boundaries?

13. Observing with
many senses
Using technologyUsing stories and historical
resources to read
To speak
To see
To hear
To taste
To smell
To touch
To feel and to think

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Moving from logic to MethodMoving from logic to Method
Participant ObservationParticipant Observation
 Five ‘W’s (waters) and One ‘H’ (Heaven)Five ‘W’s (waters) and One ‘H’ (Heaven)
 Research IssueResearch Issue
 UniverseUniverse
 SamplesSamples
 Data collectionData collection
 InterpretationInterpretation
Method is inductive and qualitative and peopleMethod is inductive and qualitative and people
basedbased

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Using Ethnography as a TheologicalUsing Ethnography as a Theological
methodologymethodology
 ““Theology is a formal reflection, description and accountTheology is a formal reflection, description and account
of religious experience, while anthropology presentsof religious experience, while anthropology presents
theoretical interpretations of the life experience oftheoretical interpretations of the life experience of
particular societies in general. As ‘life-studies’ experienceparticular societies in general. As ‘life-studies’ experience
lies at the heart of each; but their fundamental distinctionlies at the heart of each; but their fundamental distinction
concerns the existence of God. ….Christian theologyconcerns the existence of God. ….Christian theology
could not function without belief in God whilecould not function without belief in God while
anthropology operates perfectly naturally without it”anthropology operates perfectly naturally without it”
by Douglas Davis, Anthropology and Theology, Oxford:by Douglas Davis, Anthropology and Theology, Oxford:
Berg, 2002, p.1Berg, 2002, p.1

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But…But…
 Many Cultural anthropologists take GodMany Cultural anthropologists take God
experience as experienced and interpreted byexperience as experienced and interpreted by
people seriously and study them through theirpeople seriously and study them through their
participant observation method…participant observation method…
 Their common experience and behaviour areTheir common experience and behaviour are
organised around the symbolic meanings andorganised around the symbolic meanings and
expectations that are attached to objects that areexpectations that are attached to objects that are
socially valued (Symbolic interaction theory).socially valued (Symbolic interaction theory).
Bruce Malina NT world Insights from CulturalBruce Malina NT world Insights from Cultural
Anthropology p.22.Anthropology p.22.

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Symbolic NarrativesSymbolic Narratives
 Our task in theology is to examine how the faithOur task in theology is to examine how the faith
community can construct identity through the usecommunity can construct identity through the use
of a central metaphor or symbolic practices suchof a central metaphor or symbolic practices such
as prayer or by creating a symbolic narrative thatas prayer or by creating a symbolic narrative that
tells the story of its ongoing life…tells the story of its ongoing life…
 Such practices or stories provide symbolic powerSuch practices or stories provide symbolic power
to enable a faith community to develop an idea ofto enable a faith community to develop an idea of
itself that sustains it through time and enables it toitself that sustains it through time and enables it to
engage with and express its distinctions from itsengage with and express its distinctions from its
culture.. From Elaine Graham et al Theologicalculture.. From Elaine Graham et al Theological
Reflection Methods 109.Reflection Methods 109.

18. Examples firstExamples first
 Theology of an individual versus theology ofTheology of an individual versus theology of
people – faith as expressed by activists involvedpeople – faith as expressed by activists involved
in liberation of Dalits (Diversity and Hegemony)in liberation of Dalits (Diversity and Hegemony)
 Interaction between ministers and youth afterInteraction between ministers and youth after
the worship service (observation and interaction)the worship service (observation and interaction)
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What is the logic behind thisWhat is the logic behind this
method?method?
 Ethnographic method is part of Cultural AnthropologicalEthnographic method is part of Cultural Anthropological
studies. A key concept instudies. A key concept in Cultural AnthropologyCultural Anthropology isis CultureCulture..
Every organization (i.e. society) has a distinctive "Culture";Every organization (i.e. society) has a distinctive "Culture";
each has an unique cognitive structure (e.g. thoughts, worldeach has an unique cognitive structure (e.g. thoughts, world
view – purposes -functions), rules of moral conduct (e.g.view – purposes -functions), rules of moral conduct (e.g.
norms, ethos) and patterns of social interactions (e.g. socialnorms, ethos) and patterns of social interactions (e.g. social
structure, family).structure, family).
 An anthropologist researches global cultures by fieldworkAn anthropologist researches global cultures by fieldwork
which is accomplished by immersion into a society's socio-which is accomplished by immersion into a society's socio-
cultural environment. It is a study by "doing" (participating)cultural environment. It is a study by "doing" (participating)
and "analyzing" (observation).and "analyzing" (observation).

20. Methodological principlesMethodological principles
 Natural. This is the view that the aim of social researchNatural. This is the view that the aim of social research
is to capture the character of naturally occurring humanis to capture the character of naturally occurring human
behavior, and that this can only be achieved by first-behavior, and that this can only be achieved by first-
hand contact with it, not by inferences from whathand contact with it, not by inferences from what
people do in artificial settings like experiments or frompeople do in artificial settings like experiments or from
what they say in interviews about what they dowhat they say in interviews about what they do
elsewhere.elsewhere.
 Discovery. Another feature of ethnographic thinking isDiscovery. Another feature of ethnographic thinking is
a conception of the research process as inductive ora conception of the research process as inductive or
discovery-based; rather than as being limited to thediscovery-based; rather than as being limited to the
testing of explicit hypotheses.testing of explicit hypotheses.
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21. fieldwork:fieldwork:
 1. Be descriptive in taking field notes.1. Be descriptive in taking field notes.
 2. Gather a variety of information from different perspectives.2. Gather a variety of information from different perspectives.
 3. Cross-validate and triangulate by gathering different kinds of3. Cross-validate and triangulate by gathering different kinds of
data. Example: observations, interviews, programdata. Example: observations, interviews, program
documentation, recordings, and photographs.documentation, recordings, and photographs.
 4. Use quotations; represent program participants in their own4. Use quotations; represent program participants in their own
terms. Capture participants' views of their own experiences interms. Capture participants' views of their own experiences in
their own words.their own words.
 5. Select key informants wisely and use them carefully. Draw on5. Select key informants wisely and use them carefully. Draw on
the wisdom of their informed perspectives, but keep in mind thatthe wisdom of their informed perspectives, but keep in mind that
their perspectives are limited.their perspectives are limited.
 6. Be aware of and sensitive to the different stages of fieldwork.6. Be aware of and sensitive to the different stages of fieldwork.
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22. ETHICS IN ETHNOGRAPHICETHICS IN ETHNOGRAPHIC
RESEARCHRESEARCH
 In a nutshell, researchers must make their researchIn a nutshell, researchers must make their research
goals clear to the members of the community wheregoals clear to the members of the community where
they undertake their research and gain the informedthey undertake their research and gain the informed
consent of their consultants to the research beforehand.consent of their consultants to the research beforehand.
It is also important to learn whether the group wouldIt is also important to learn whether the group would
prefer to be named in the written report of the researchprefer to be named in the written report of the research
or given a pseudonym and to offer the results of theor given a pseudonym and to offer the results of the
research if informants would like to read it. Most of all,research if informants would like to read it. Most of all,
researchers must be sure that the research does notresearchers must be sure that the research does not
harm or exploit those among whom the research isharm or exploit those among whom the research is
done.done.
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23. You never net a fish without getting wetYou never net a fish without getting wet
– we all start with mistakes in– we all start with mistakes in
observations or chaosobservations or chaos

24. What do you do with texts?What do you do with texts?
 ANALYZING, INTERPRETING ANDANALYZING, INTERPRETING AND
REPORTING FINDINGSREPORTING FINDINGS
 QUALITATIVE DESCRIPTIONQUALITATIVE DESCRIPTION
 BALANCE BETWEEN DESCRIPTIONBALANCE BETWEEN DESCRIPTION
AND ANALYSISAND ANALYSIS
 VERIFYING, GROUPING,VERIFYING, GROUPING,
THEMATIZING, RELATING TOTHEMATIZING, RELATING TO
EXISTING THEORETICALEXISTING THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORKSFRAMEWORKS
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25. QDA (Qualitative Data Analysis)QDA (Qualitative Data Analysis)
 Content analysisContent analysis
 Thematic analysisThematic analysis
 Narrative analysisNarrative analysis
 Grounded theoryGrounded theory
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26. So what?So what?
 What did you discover?What did you discover?
 How did you prove?How did you prove?
 What is/are your contribution –something newWhat is/are your contribution –something new
to the ongoing discussions in the field that youto the ongoing discussions in the field that you
had done your research?had done your research?
 How did you go beyond the existing theoreticalHow did you go beyond the existing theoretical
or theological concepts? Relating to literatureor theological concepts? Relating to literature
reviewsreviews
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27. Reflexive questions?Reflexive questions?
 Representation? Being a small groupRepresentation? Being a small group
 Reliable? UnrepeatableReliable? Unrepeatable
 Time consuming?Time consuming?
 Influence of presence? Of the researcherInfluence of presence? Of the researcher
 Risk of the researcher? In some context/sRisk of the researcher? In some context/s
AdvantagesAdvantages
Deeper social interactionsDeeper social interactions
Valid data of people rather than researcher’sValid data of people rather than researcher’s
Open to new insightsOpen to new insights 27