Thinking Ethnography

The readings on Ethnography were useful for helping to frame and define what is a potentially very useful research presentation technique. I felt like much of the Maanen article was perhaps too concentrated on audience to really address issues of use and form, though his engagingly written history offered many insights on past (and potential) uses of ethnography, and the presentation of the methodological development was illuminating.

Of more use was the second piece, and organizing and conducting interview research. These helped bring to light many of the practical considerations that one must consider when engaging in ethnographic research and conducting in-depth interviews. Lots of good hints about taking notes as you go and taking in the whole environment.

The method of ethnography is going to be of use for Chase and I as we are exploring the daily activity within the coffeeshops in Amsterdam. I can see making observational trips to different types of coffeeshops (the literature divides them up into those that are for tourists, for the native Dutch, and for various ethnic groups) at different times of the day to observe activities and transactions. These trips will obviously veer away from "participant observation." Taking note of atmosphere, clientele, cultural or ritualistic activities, etc. and using some of these ethnographic techniques will enable us to develop a detailed portrait of the spaces, their cultural position and significance, etc.

As far as questions to ask and people to ask them to, I am still wrestling with this question a bit. As is evident in my previous blog post, my conception of the research project has kind of blown open in the last week and I am somewhat desperately flailing about for an anchor, a center, a focus. Chase and I are both obviously interested in the development of coffeeshops as social institutions, the culture within and the culture without, but I am questioning what the best ways to address those questions is. Talking to coffeeshop owners/workers, health professionals, law enforcement, and other native Dutch is going to fit into this somehow, but I'm still trying to decide what the best overarching research question is going to be. Need to talk with the rest of the group soon!