Explain the distinction between ethnography and the case study with regard to its major focus. Give an example of a research question that would be appropriate for each.

What will be an ideal response?


Ans: Varies. Ethnography focuses on the in-depth study of a culture, whereas the case study provides a comprehensive examination of a specific entity like an organization or an event. A research question for an ethnographic study might be “What are the most unique norms about marriage for Mexican Americans?” A case study question could be “What is the informal leadership structure for the Harper County Behavioral Health Center?”
Learning Objective: 9-5: Identify the key characteristics of the social survey, the interview, and the focus group as different data collection methods in qualitative research.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Approaches to Qualitative Research

Social Work & Human Services

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