Ethnographic Interview

An ethnographic interview is an informal interview that takes place in a naturalistic setting and is often the result of participant observation. Researchers who are engaging in ethnography or acting as both participants and observers within a given community or context may utilize ethnographic interviews to find out more about the lives and behaviors of community members. These interviews take place between researchers and participants who generally have an established relationship, often occur spontaneously, and the goal of these interviews is to learn more about members of a community from the members themselves, in their own words and in a natural setting. Much of the information involves the communication practices and techniques of the community and how the process of communication defines and sustains the communication. This entry includes a brief explanation of the origins and applications of ethnographic interviews, a description of what differentiates ethnographic interviews from other types of interviews, an overview of the goals and limitations of ethnographic interviews, and a discussion of some of the rewards and challenges of ethnographic interviews.