Critical ethnography Research Strategy

comminuted descriptive anthropology Research StrategyIntroductionThe interrogation methodology that I forget be using for the Data accrual and Analysis assignment is over little descriptive anthropology. This methodology fits with my look for goal to process aw atomic number 18ness to the unequal agency structures and oppression existing within the cooperative tyke offbeat and violence against women (VAW) advocates relationship. Madison (2005) states that circumstantial ethnographers gestate an good responsibility to address unfairness and injustice within a occurrence lived domain and moves beneath surface appearances, disrupts the status quo, and un bent grasstles both neutrality and taken-for-granted assumptions by bringing to light underlying and obscure operations of power and get a line (p. 5).Therefore, using the scathing paradigm embedded in this methodology, I set out to uncover how issues of power, oppression and inequality affect the collaborative relatio nship between child welf atomic number 18 and violence against women (VAW) advocates that ultimately affect the service they provide to women and children. Through examining the strengths and weaknesses of their relationship, I intend to shed light onto how women and children who have take c atomic number 18d domestic violence and abuse are impacted by the power exerted by both service providers and their existing policies and ideologies.Theoretical and abstract LensConceptual LensCritical ethnography is defined as the doing or performance of little possibleness. It is critical speculation in action. (Madison, 2005, p. 5). Thus, critical ethnography is innately connectedExploring methodologyTo the critical paradigm, which ordain be the conceptual lens utilized to investigate my explore question.Critical surmise is concerned with the mediation of power and dominance in society. Cohen, Manion and Morrison (2005) state critical theory tastes to uncover the interests at work i n particular situations and to call into question the legitimacy of those interests Its intention is understandative to transform society and individuals to companionable democracy (p. 28). The critical theory component of critical ethnography differentiates it from mainstream ethnography, which is concerned with the observation and definition of culture or phenomenon. Critical theory modifies conventional ethnography by incorporating a political agenda which seeks to emancipate society.Theoretical LensAnti- tyrannous theory provides a strong theoretical lens to use with critical theory and critical ethnography as both the former and the latter seek to uncover oppression and marginalization in society. It recognizes the intersectionalities of both clients and workers and can be used to highlight how legislation is entrenched in hetero-patriarchy. Similarly, at an organizational level, anti-oppressive theory can help to reveal the hegemonic practices in child welfare which influ ences the relationship between VAW workers and child protection workers and impacts the delivery of services to women and children.Epistemology of Critical EthnographyThe epistemological underpinnings of critical ethnography are concerned with how the companionship of oppression and power emerged historically and politically and its impact onExploring methodological analysisshaping relations in society. The potential of knowledge carrefourion to spue and perpetuate notions of power, oppression and inequality in society is recognized. In addition, critical epistemology includes an understanding of the relationship between power and thought and power and impartiality claims (Carspecken, 1996, p. 10)This nestle is value-laden because it has a determinedly political agenda. It seeks transformation by exposing oppressive structures in society, with the goal to emancipate society. Critical ethnographers are interested in hearing the autobiographys of their clients with the explicit agenda to bring forth political change. It is to a fault value mediated because the police detective and the researched are interconnected, with the values of the investigator and the another(prenominal) influencing the inquiry. However, it is important to note that while research is value-driven, the validity claims of the researcher moldiness meet rigorous standards to avoid bias. (Carspecken, 1996, p. 8)Moreover, a critical ethnographic approach goes further than other approaches. Firstly, critical researchers acknowledge researcher bias and subjectivity, as the researchers personal feelings and views are a part of the research process. The researcher is reflexive, and is busy in a constant process of critiquing both objectivity and subjectivity. Second, researchers interlock in an examination of their positionality in relation to the other (who is being studied). The researcher is engaged in a dialogical relationship with the other and remains grounded in their experience, a s it is the concern for their condition which is driving the research. According to Madison (2005) discourse moves from ethnographic presence to the present by opening up passageways for readers and audiences to experience and grasp the partial presence of a temporal conversation make up by the others voice, body, history and yearnings (p. 10).Exploring methodologyOntology of Critical EthnographyCritical ethnography begins from the premise that the structure and content of culture make life unnecessarily more nasty, brutish, and short for some people (Thomas, 1993, p. 33). When conducting research, critical ethnographers start with a view of what there is to know, an ontology, that furnishes a set of images and metaphors, in which various forms of social oppression constitute what is to be kn birth (Thomas, 1993, p. 34). Thus, ontological underpinnings of critical ethnography are concerned with how societal structures and systems oppress certain groups, while reinforcing power, m astery and capitalism. It sets out to expose the deeper social, historical and political meanings in society which pay back the marginalization of some groups and how power and interests mediate these relations going at a lower place the surface level meaning to expose how bodies of ideas, norms and ideologies create meanings for constructing social subjects and concepts akin gender, race and student (Thomas, 1993, p. 34).Critical ethnography also acknowledges that there are multiple realities, which can be uncovered through incorporating a narrative ontology. The narratives of role players are used to provide a rich description of their experience, as interpreted by the researcher to illustrate how issues of oppression, power and inequality are operating in his or her life (Thomas, 1993, p. 34).Unit of AnalysisFor this research study, dialogical data will be collected through a semi-structured audience with the intent to shed light into organizational practices existing within child protection and VAW services that influences their collaborative relationship. A key informantExploring Methodologywho has worked both in child welfare and VAW services will be discourseed for twenty to thirty minutes.Data Collection ToolsFor this research study, I will be interviewing a single individual. A semi-structured interview will be used because it allows the interview to be sufficiently open-ended. The interview questions can be re-ordered, modified and the researcher can probe the participant with spare questions, if needed.The interview will be recorded using an audio recorder. Field notes and experimental notes of non verbal communication will also be taken. After the interview, additional notes will be made to capture anything that may have been missed.Strengths and Weaknesses of this MethodologyOne of the major strengths of critical ethnography is that it goes further than a handed-down descriptive study, as it seeks to make emancipatory changes in society. I ts political agenda attempts to transform society and share narratives and experiences of oppressed groups. This methodology also attempts to include the participants in the research process, using methods such as member checking (Carspecken, 1996, p. 166) which helps provide individuals who are often ignored from dominant discourses a voice.However, one glaring critique of critical ethnography has been that we cannot separate it from the historical and political stage setting from which it emerged. This context is problematic as it effects the researchers epistemological position because the ethnographers institutional orExploring Methodology corporal standpoint within the everyday world is seldom connected or made problematic in relation to his or her subjects lived actualities. (Jordan Yeoman, 1995, p. 393).While critical ethnography is supposed to take a bottom-up view, the majority of its researchers come from an academic background, which is often in contrast of the materia l location of their participants. (Jordan Yeoman, 1995, p. 399-400). This influences the production of knowledge and data, as the relationship may be characterized by a power imbalance and differing worldviews as a product of varying material locations. Moreover, exposing inequality and oppression in academic literature does not ensure that change is created in the field.Thus, critical ethnographers become caught in a double bind. On one hand, the researcher seeks emancipation and sac for their subjects, but they are constrained by their own positionality and the institutions for which they work. Thomas (1976, p. 25) statesWe must(prenominal) never become wholly dependent upon established institutions publishing houses, mercantile media, universities, foundations. Social intellectuals must occupy some territory which is their own their own journal, their own theoretical and practice centres places where no one works for grades or fore tenure but for the transformation of societ y (Jordan Yeomans, 1995, p. 399-400).However, despite the researchers positionality, critical ethnography brings an opportunity to challenge traditional research and incorporate participant voices. It is also exciting as it attempts to liberate society from oppression and therefore, provides an resource and welcomed choice to mainstream research.Exploring MethodologyAnalysis of Three Peer Reviewed ArticlesThe appendix will discuss three peer reviewed articles in a map, which is on the pastime page. The chart is divided into multiple categories, which will discuss the unit of analysis, the savour group, data collection and data analysis. I will conclude the chart by examining the strengths and the weaknesses of the methodology in the articles and then relate it back to my research study.ConclusionThis written report set out to explore critical ethnography as my chosen methodology to conduct my research. Through writing this paper and reviewing the three articles, I know that cr itical ethnography will be useful in achieving my research goal of highlighting the oppression and power in the collaborative relationship between child welfare and VAW workers. This is important, as the relationship between these two sectors ultimately impacts the level of service provided to women and children.