Etnografii

Etnografii, or ethnography, is the branch of anthropology and social science that studies cultures and social practices through descriptive, first-hand fieldwork. It aims to document patterns of life, belief, and social organization within particular communities and to interpret their meanings from the perspective of the people studied.

Traditionally, ethnography relies on qualitative methods such as participant observation, structured and unstructured interviews, life histories, and the collection of artifacts, documents, and local records. Researchers often live within the community for extended periods to observe daily routines and rituals, creating detailed field notes and narratives. Ethnography distinguishes itself from broader comparative studies by focusing on in-depth, contextual description rather than broad generalizations.

Origins: Ethnography emerged in the 19th century within anthropology as a method for describing societies encountered during exploration and colonialism. Key figures include Bronisław Malinowski, who championed thick description and participant observation, and Franz Boas, who stressed cultural relativism and field-based evidence. Over time, the method broadened to social anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies, with diverse subfields such as urban ethnography, medical ethnography, economic ethnography, and digital or online ethnography.

Ethics and interpretation: Modern ethnography emphasizes informed consent, reflexivity, confidentiality, and the responsible representation of participants. Scholars are attentive to power dynamics, insider/outsider perspectives, and potential impacts of publication on communities.