fieldwork / methods | antropologi.info

Ethnographic study on bloggers in California & New York

Published on November 10, 2004 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, cyberanthropology, fieldwork / methods, internet

Dina Mehta, author of the blog Conversations with Dina, points to a ethnographic study on bloggers. She quotes:

“The bloggers interviewed say their preference for blogging over a web page because it is more dynamic “the rhythm of frequent, usually brief posts, the immediacy of reverse chronological order”, more focused “ the little distraction it provides”. A blog is perceived as a “superior alternative to sending mass emails” because it is freer and less intrusive”

“Bloggers feel they have an audience expecting regular, good postings, and an obligation towards them. Participants speak about feeling burnout, and having stopped blogging for a while.”

“The act of writing, as art and craft or as a support for thinking, is also one of the motors of blogging. A last reason for blogging is being part of a community. The publishing process becomes intrinsically collective, as people interact through blogs. “Blogs are natural community tools for people whose practice is to write and comment on the writing of others: researchers, poets, journalists.”

>> continue

Dina Mehta, author of the blog Conversations with Dina, points to a ethnographic study on bloggers. She quotes:

"The bloggers interviewed say their preference for blogging over a web page because it is more dynamic “the rhythm of frequent, usually brief…

In Britian: The local pub is the heart of the community

Published on November 10, 2004 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, books, culture traditions, Europe, fieldwork / methods, Us and Them

Manchester Online

MOST people believe the local pub is far more important to their community than the church, according to a survey published today. Kate Fox, social anthropologist and co-director of the Social Issues Research Centre, was asked to comment on the findings.

She said: “The survey confirms the status of the pub as a central part of British life and culture, a unique institution, vital for sustaining local communities. The bar of the pub is one of the very few public places in England where it is socially acceptable to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger,” she said.

“At the bar, the normal unwritten rules of privacy and reserve are suspended – we are granted temporary `remission’ from our conventional social inhibitions, and friendly conversation with strangers is regarded as entirely appropriate and normal behaviour.” >> continue

Manchester Online

Businesses, advertising firms turn to commercial ethnography

Published on November 9, 2004 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, applied anthropology, corporate & business anthropology, fieldwork / methods

The Grand Island Independent

Eight O’Clock Coffee Co. wanted its advertising push to hit people right where they live: in their own homes, just waking up in the morning, craving that first cup of coffee. To get the right look, the company turned to an increasingly popular form of research known as commercial ethnography, which combines marketing and the kind of observations done by anthropologists.

Kaplan Thaler’s director of strategic planning and research, Chris Wauton, says a milestone in developing commercial ethnography came in 1979 with a book written by anthropologist Mary Douglas and economist Baron Isherwood titled, “The World of Goods: Towards an Anthropology of Consumption.” (no longer available online)

Found via Bits and Bytes by Fazia Rizvi who writes:

The (quoted) article goes on to add:

“It was difficult for some in the business world to turn from quantitative, survey type information to qualitative, interpretive research, she said.”

This has probably been the biggest hurdle for me to overcome. I have over 15 years of qualitative research experience with people’s use of the Internet and Internet technologies. I find my observations and conclusions confirmed and validated over and over again. But managers and executives usually only trust quantitiative data and it’s hard to make the argument for directions that are informed by the qualitative approach.”

>> Bits and Bytes: Businesses Wake Up To Anthropology (Link updated 28.1.2022, her new blog ishas moved to https://www.faziarizvi.net/blog/)

The Grand Island Independent

Eight O'Clock Coffee Co. wanted its advertising push to hit people right where they live: in their own homes, just waking up in the morning, craving that first cup of coffee. To get the right look, the…

The Poorbuthappy Guide to Ethnography in Design and Business

Published on November 5, 2004 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, applied anthropology, corporate & business anthropology, fieldwork / methods, websites

This site’s layout looks like as if it was last updated in the early 90s, but this is because it is a traditional wiki – a site that everybody is allowed to edit. Besides the guide “How to do Ethnographic Research”, you’ll also find a list of “Companies That Do Ethno” >> continue

This site's layout looks like as if it was last updated in the early 90s, but this is because it is a traditional wiki - a site that everybody is allowed to edit. Besides the guide "How to do Ethnographic…

Teamwork, Not Rivalry, Marks New Era in Research

Published on November 4, 2004 by lorenz Posted in anthropology in the news, fieldwork / methods, interdisciplinary, University / Academia

Los Angeles Times / KTLA TV

Teamwork across departmental lines was once a rarity at the nation’s most prestigious universities. But the practice, usually known as interdisciplinary research, is spreading rapidly. They are teaming psychologists and anthropologists with economists, laboratory biologists with computer-modeling experts, and scientists who study the brain with humanities professors who explore music and art.

One of the main reasons for the surge in interdisciplinary research is the complexity of today’s crucial issues. “For any problem that has some importance today, you find that, really, it doesn’t fit neatly into biology or into chemistry or into law” said Roberto Peccei, UCLA’s vice chancellor for research.

Still, some experts say, the quality of some interdisciplinary research is questionable. In certain cases in the humanities and social sciences, “interdisciplinary work simply provides a home for misfits, malcontents, those who are anti-disciplines without being pro-anything,” said Howard Gardner, a Harvard Graduate School of Education professor studying interdisciplinary trends. ~~(no longer available online)~~

>> read the whole article (pdf)

Los Angeles Times / KTLA TV

Teamwork across departmental lines was once a rarity at the nation's most prestigious universities. But the practice, usually known as interdisciplinary research, is spreading rapidly. They are teaming psychologists and anthropologists with economists, laboratory biologists…