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130 Ethnographic Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Ethnographic research is a method used by anthropologists and sociologists to study and understand different cultures and societies. This type of research involves immersing oneself in the culture being studied, participating in everyday activities, and observing social interactions. Ethnographic essays are written based on this research, providing a detailed and in-depth analysis of a particular culture or community. If you are looking for inspiration for your ethnographic essay, here are 130 topic ideas and examples to consider:

The impact of globalization on a remote indigenous community
Gender roles in a traditional African tribe
Rituals and ceremonies in a Mexican village
Youth culture in urban Japan
Food traditions in a Middle Eastern country
Religious practices in a Hindu temple
Family dynamics in a Hispanic immigrant community
Education system in a rural African village
Healthcare practices in a Native American tribe
Social hierarchy in a Southeast Asian society
Dating and courtship rituals in a European country
Art and music in a Caribbean island
Traditional healing methods in an Aboriginal community
Political activism in a South American country
LGBTQ+ rights in a Middle Eastern society
Indigenous land rights in Australia
Community festivals in a European city
Language preservation in an African tribe
Traditional crafts in a Southeast Asian village
Environmental conservation practices in a Pacific island
Indigenous storytelling traditions in North America
Street food culture in a South Asian city
Marriage customs in a Middle Eastern country
Urban migration in a Latin American city
Traditional dance forms in an African country
Social media use in a Western society
Traditional clothing in a South Asian culture
Teenage subcultures in a European city
Aging population in a developed country
Indigenous governance in a Pacific island nation
Homelessness in a North American city
Gender equality in a Scandinavian country
Cultural assimilation in an immigrant community
Folklore and mythology in an Asian country
Climate change adaptation in a coastal community
Music festivals in a Western country
Indigenous resistance movements in a Latin American country
Traditional farming practices in an African village
Youth activism in a Southeast Asian society
Cultural appropriation in a Western society
Traditional medicine in an Asian country
Community policing in a Caribbean island
Dance clubs in a European city
Gender identity in a South American culture
Traditional architecture in a Middle Eastern city
Street art in a North American city
Indigenous languages in a Pacific island nation
Social welfare programs in a Scandinavian country
Refugee integration in a European country
Youth unemployment in a developing country
Indigenous art forms in an African tribe
LGBTQ+ representation in a South Asian society
Urban planning in a Middle Eastern city
Environmental activism in a Pacific island nation
Indigenous rights movements in Australia
Traditional music in a Caribbean island
Social media influencers in a Western society
Traditional healing practices in an Asian country
Community gardens in a Latin American city
Gender-based violence in a Southeast Asian society
Cultural heritage preservation in a European city
Traditional clothing in a North American indigenous community
Peer pressure in a Western high school
Indigenous storytelling traditions in a Pacific island nation
Urban gentrification in a Scandinavian city
Refugee camps in a Middle Eastern country
Indigenous land disputes in a South American country
Traditional dance forms in an African village
Social media activism in a Western society
Gender roles in a South Asian family
Traditional crafts in a Caribbean island
Cultural diversity in a European city
Youth empowerment programs in a Latin American country
Indigenous education initiatives in Australia
Traditional music in a Southeast Asian village
Gender equality in a Pacific island nation
Community policing in a North American city
LGBTQ+ representation in a Scandinavian society
Traditional medicine in an African tribe
Climate change adaptation in a South American community
Music festivals in a Middle Eastern country
Indigenous resistance movements in an Asian country
Traditional farming practices in a Pacific island nation
Youth activism in a European city
Cultural assimilation in a North American immigrant community
Folklore and mythology in a South Asian culture
Street food culture in a Latin American city
Marriage customs in a Caribbean island
Indigenous governance in a Western society
Homelessness in an African village
Gender equality in a Southeast Asian

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15 Great Ethnography Examples

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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ethnography examples and definition, explained below

Ethnography is a research method that involves embedding yourself in the environment of a group or community and recording what you observe. It often involves the researcher living in the community being studied. This leads to a much richer understanding of the people being examined than doing quantitative research.

The thing I love about ethnography is that it paints a thorough picture of people’s lives. It is, in its own way, the most raw, honest, and detailed form of academic research.

In my previous blog posts, I have discussed my admiration for thick description as a way to pierce beyond stereotypes and view the world through the lens of our subjects.

And there’s no doubt that ethnographic research has helped us learn so much more about how people navigate their cultural circumstances.

Below are some examples of ethnography – both abstract (with the hope that it helps students think about some ways they can do ethnography) and real-life (with the hope that you will read some inspiring ethnographic studies).

Ethnography Examples

To start, here are some ways you could potentially do ethnography:

Ethnography of Indigenous People: There are many examples of ethnographic studies that look at indigenous cultures and how they’re similar or different to Western culture. Beware of the trap of colonialism during this work.
Mundane Ethnography: Remember, ethnography doesn’t have to happen in a far off land. You can do autoethnography where you study yourself , or a study of somewhere very banal, like your workplace or home.
Educational Ethnography: There is a rich history of teachers and researchers using ethnographic methods in classrooms to explore how learning happens.
Ethnography in a Shop: Be the ethnographer within a supermarket by interacting with the people there on a daily basis (maybe as the cashier) and observe how people interact and collide within the space.
Working-Class and Immigrant Ethnography: Many sociologists use ethnographic methods to take an inside look at how people on the margins of society grapple with global concepts like capitalism, globalization, and race.
Digital Ethnography: Since the rise of the internet, there have been many researchers interested in the digital lives of people. Some of my favorite studies have revealed how we create our identities online.

My Favorite Ethnographic Research Books

1. learning to labour.

Author: Paul Willis

One of my favorite ethnographic works, Learning to Labour follows working-class ‘lads’ in the British Midlands as they participate in counter-cultural and ‘anti-social’ behaviors.

The most fascinating aspect of this book is the rich elucidation of how these working-class boys reject narratives of upward mobility and revel in rejecting mental work at school. But at the same time, they create their own value hierarchies.

In fact, the boys don’t even leave school when they are legally allowed, despite giving a veneer of being anti-school. Instead, they remain there, because there is their own social and even educational value they can get out of it. They prize the manual labor they do in class and, after leaving school, continue to prize physical labor in the workplace while deriding and dismissing mental labor.

2. Being Maori in the City

Author: Natacha Gagné

When indigenous people live in urban environments, their authenticity as indigenous peoples is often brought into question.

Thus, Gagné’s examination of Maori identity in Auckland presents a valuable insight into how people continue to live out their indigenous identities in a changing, urbanized, and colonized landscape.

Gagné spent two years living with Maori people in Auckland and highlights in the book how their identity continues to be central to how they interact both with one another and with broader society.

3. Ethnography of a Neoliberal School

Author: Garth Stahl

While a wide range of academic research has looked at how neoliberalism can affect education, an ethnographic approach allows Stahl to demonstrate how it turns up as lived experience.

Neoliberalism is an approach to governance that focuses on the corporatization of society. In education, this means that schools should be run like companies.

There is no better example, of course, than charter schools .

In my favorite chapter, Stahl demonstrates within one anonymized charter school how teachers are increasingly subjected to performance quotas, KPIs, and governance that narrow down the purpose of education and give them very little freedom to exercise their expertise and provide individualized support to their students.

4. Coming of Age in Samoa

Author: Margaret Mead

Margaret Mead’s groundbreaking ethnography, Coming of Age in Samoa , had implications for two important reasons:

It highlighted the importance of feminist perspectives in ethnographic research.
It challenged a universalizing stage-based conceptualization of human development.

Mead’s work was conducted at a time when the Western world was in a moral panic about adolescents’ stress and emotional behaviors. The prevailing idea – promoted mainly by male psychologists – was that most of those behaviors were a natural part of the developmental cycle.

Mead, however, saw that female Samoan adolescents had much different experiences of adolescence and would not have fitted into the western mold of how a female adolescent would behave or be treated.

The Samoan society’s liberal ideas around intimacy and the lower levels of academic stress placed on the girls meant they lived very different realities with far less stress and social pressure than their Western counterparts.

5. Ghetto at the Center of the World

Author: Gordon Mathews

Mathews’s Ghetto at the Center of the World explores a multiethnic high-density housing complex in Hong Kong.

While seen by many locals as a ghetto (despite its relative safety!), Mathews shows how the motley group of residents, migrants, and tourists in the building live rich lives at what appears to be ground zero of globalization.

For the people in the building, globalization has offered opportunities but hasn’t solved all their problems. Each person that Mathews follows has their own story of how they navigate a globalized world while maintaining hope for a better future.

Additional Influential Ethnographic Studies

Argonauts of the Western Pacific – This study was notable because it presented a turn toward participant observation in ethnography rather than attempts at fly-on-the-wall objectivity.
The Remembered Village – A study of caste systems in India, this study is most notable for its methodological influence. Srinivas, the author, lost his field notes, but he continued on with presenting his findings, causing widespread controversy about its methodological merits.
Space and Society in Central Brazil – This study explores the experiences of the Panará indigenous people of Brazil as they attempt to secure protected space from the colonialization occurring around them. It’s notable for its insights into how the Panará people organize themselves both culturally and spatially.
White Bound – This book follows two groups, a white anti-racist group and a white nationalist group, and explores how each deals with whiteness. While the groups have fundamentally different goals, even the anti-racist group continue to contribute to white privilege .
City, Street and Citizen – Suzanne Hall’s study of the mundane city street explores how multiethnicity is played out in globalized cities. It is a fascinating look at how lives take place within shared spaces where social contact occurs.

Ethnography is, in my humble (and of course subjective) opinion, the most exciting form of primary research you can do. It can challenge assumptions, unpick social norms, and make us all more empathetic people.

Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 10 Reasons you’re Perpetually Single
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 20 Montessori Toddler Bedrooms (Design Inspiration)
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 21 Montessori Homeschool Setups
Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 101 Hidden Talents Examples

3 thoughts on “15 Great Ethnography Examples”

Thanks very much for that. I am an early childhood teacher, already published on the topic of bilingual and multilingual children in our sector. One of my lecturers has suggested an ethnographic study of some of our immigrant children. Not sure where to start with that, but this has put me in the right frame of mind. Thanks again

Dear Chris,

Any suggested topic on ethnographic research i can start with here in the hospital where i am working. I am a nurse for cardiovascular patients undergoing open heart surgeries.

As you’re in a high risk setting, you might be best asking your managers at the workplace about this one. You could also consider an autoethnography where you do a study on yourself within the settings.

Best of luck with the study.

Regards, Chris

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Methodology

What Is Ethnography? | Definition, Guide & Examples

What Is Ethnography? | Definition, Guide & Examples

Published on March 13, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on June 22, 2023.

Ethnography is a type of qualitative research that involves immersing yourself in a particular community or organization to observe their behavior and interactions up close. The word “ethnography” also refers to the written report of the research that the ethnographer produces afterwards.

Ethnography is a flexible research method that allows you to gain a deep understanding of a group’s shared culture, conventions, and social dynamics. However, it also involves some practical and ethical challenges.

What is ethnography used for, different approaches to ethnographic research, gaining access to a community, working with informants, observing the group and taking field notes, writing up an ethnography, other interesting articles.

Ethnographic research originated in the field of anthropology, and it often involved an anthropologist living with an isolated tribal community for an extended period of time in order to understand their culture.

This type of research could sometimes last for years. For example, Colin M. Turnbull lived with the Mbuti people for three years in order to write the classic ethnography The Forest People .

Today, ethnography is a common approach in various social science fields, not just anthropology. It is used not only to study distant or unfamiliar cultures, but also to study specific communities within the researcher’s own society.

For example, ethnographic research (sometimes called participant observation ) has been used to investigate football fans , call center workers , and police officers .

Advantages of ethnography

The main advantage of ethnography is that it gives the researcher direct access to the culture and practices of a group. It is a useful approach for learning first-hand about the behavior and interactions of people within a particular context.

By becoming immersed in a social environment, you may have access to more authentic information and spontaneously observe dynamics that you could not have found out about simply by asking.

Ethnography is also an open and flexible method. Rather than aiming to verify a general theory or test a hypothesis , it aims to offer a rich narrative account of a specific culture, allowing you to explore many different aspects of the group and setting.

Disadvantages of ethnography

Ethnography is a time-consuming method. In order to embed yourself in the setting and gather enough observations to build up a representative picture, you can expect to spend at least a few weeks, but more likely several months. This long-term immersion can be challenging, and requires careful planning.

Ethnographic research can run the risk of observer bias . Writing an ethnography involves subjective interpretation, and it can be difficult to maintain the necessary distance to analyze a group that you are embedded in.

There are often also ethical considerations to take into account: for example, about how your role is disclosed to members of the group, or about observing and reporting sensitive information.

Should you use ethnography in your research?

If you’re a student who wants to use ethnographic research in your thesis or dissertation , it’s worth asking yourself whether it’s the right approach:

Could the information you need be collected in another way (e.g. a survey , interviews)?
How difficult will it be to gain access to the community you want to study?
How exactly will you conduct your research, and over what timespan?
What ethical issues might arise?

If you do decide to do ethnography, it’s generally best to choose a relatively small and easily accessible group, to ensure that the research is feasible within a limited timeframe.

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There are a few key distinctions in ethnography which help to inform the researcher’s approach: open vs. closed settings, overt vs. covert ethnography, and active vs. passive observation. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Open vs. closed settings

The setting of your ethnography—the environment in which you will observe your chosen community in action—may be open or closed.

An open or public setting is one with no formal barriers to entry. For example, you might consider a community of people living in a certain neighborhood, or the fans of a particular baseball team.

Gaining initial access to open groups is not too difficult…
…but it may be harder to become immersed in a less clearly defined group.

A closed or private setting is harder to access. This may be for example a business, a school, or a cult.

A closed group’s boundaries are clearly defined and the ethnographer can become fully immersed in the setting…
…but gaining access is tougher; the ethnographer may have to negotiate their way in or acquire some role in the organization.

Overt vs. covert ethnography

Most ethnography is overt . In an overt approach, the ethnographer openly states their intentions and acknowledges their role as a researcher to the members of the group being studied.

Overt ethnography is typically preferred for ethical reasons, as participants can provide informed consent…
…but people may behave differently with the awareness that they are being studied.

Sometimes ethnography can be covert . This means that the researcher does not tell participants about their research, and comes up with some other pretense for being there.

Covert ethnography allows access to environments where the group would not welcome a researcher…
…but hiding the researcher’s role can be considered deceptive and thus unethical.

Active vs. passive observation

Different levels of immersion in the community may be appropriate in different contexts. The ethnographer may be a more active or passive participant depending on the demands of their research and the nature of the setting.

An active role involves trying to fully integrate, carrying out tasks and participating in activities like any other member of the community.

Active participation may encourage the group to feel more comfortable with the ethnographer’s presence…
…but runs the risk of disrupting the regular functioning of the community.

A passive role is one in which the ethnographer stands back from the activities of others, behaving as a more distant observer and not involving themselves in the community’s activities.

Passive observation allows more space for careful observation and note-taking…
…but group members may behave unnaturally due to feeling they are being observed by an outsider.

While ethnographers usually have a preference, they also have to be flexible about their level of participation. For example, access to the community might depend upon engaging in certain activities, or there might be certain practices in which outsiders cannot participate.

An important consideration for ethnographers is the question of access. The difficulty of gaining access to the setting of a particular ethnography varies greatly:

To gain access to the fans of a particular sports team, you might start by simply attending the team’s games and speaking with the fans.
To access the employees of a particular business, you might contact the management and ask for permission to perform a study there.
Alternatively, you might perform a covert ethnography of a community or organization you are already personally involved in or employed by.

Flexibility is important here too: where it’s impossible to access the desired setting, the ethnographer must consider alternatives that could provide comparable information.

For example, if you had the idea of observing the staff within a particular finance company but could not get permission, you might look into other companies of the same kind as alternatives. Ethnography is a sensitive research method, and it may take multiple attempts to find a feasible approach.

All ethnographies involve the use of informants . These are people involved in the group in question who function as the researcher’s primary points of contact, facilitating access and assisting their understanding of the group.

This might be someone in a high position at an organization allowing you access to their employees, or a member of a community sponsoring your entry into that community and giving advice on how to fit in.

However, i f you come to rely too much on a single informant, you may be influenced by their perspective on the community, which might be unrepresentative of the group as a whole.

In addition, an informant may not provide the kind of spontaneous information which is most useful to ethnographers, instead trying to show what they believe you want to see. For this reason, it’s good to have a variety of contacts within the group.

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The core of ethnography is observation of the group from the inside. Field notes are taken to record these observations while immersed in the setting; they form the basis of the final written ethnography. They are usually written by hand, but other solutions such as voice recordings can be useful alternatives.

Field notes record any and all important data: phenomena observed, conversations had, preliminary analysis. For example, if you’re researching how service staff interact with customers, you should write down anything you notice about these interactions—body language, phrases used repeatedly, differences and similarities between staff, customer reactions.

Don’t be afraid to also note down things you notice that fall outside the pre-formulated scope of your research; anything may prove relevant, and it’s better to have extra notes you might discard later than to end up with missing data.

Field notes should be as detailed and clear as possible. It’s important to take time to go over your notes, expand on them with further detail, and keep them organized (including information such as dates and locations).

After observations are concluded, there’s still the task of writing them up into an ethnography. This entails going through the field notes and formulating a convincing account of the behaviors and dynamics observed.

The structure of an ethnography

An ethnography can take many different forms: It may be an article, a thesis, or an entire book, for example.

Ethnographies often do not follow the standard structure of a scientific paper, though like most academic texts, they should have an introduction and conclusion. For example, this paper begins by describing the historical background of the research, then focuses on various themes in turn before concluding.

An ethnography may still use a more traditional structure, however, especially when used in combination with other research methods. For example, this paper follows the standard structure for empirical research: introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion.

The content of an ethnography

The goal of a written ethnography is to provide a rich, authoritative account of the social setting in which you were embedded—to convince the reader that your observations and interpretations are representative of reality.

Ethnography tends to take a less impersonal approach than other research methods. Due to the embedded nature of the work, an ethnography often necessarily involves discussion of your personal experiences and feelings during the research.

Ethnography is not limited to making observations; it also attempts to explain the phenomena observed in a structured, narrative way. For this, you may draw on theory, but also on your direct experience and intuitions, which may well contradict the assumptions that you brought into the research.

If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Normal distribution
Degrees of freedom
Null hypothesis
Discourse analysis
Control groups
Mixed methods research
Non-probability sampling
Quantitative research
Ecological validity

Research bias

Rosenthal effect
Implicit bias
Cognitive bias
Selection bias
Negativity bias
Status quo bias

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The Autoethnography: Ten Examples

Instructions, choosing a topic.

For our final project for the class, you will be asked to select a subculture that you have currently chosen to be a part of or one that you will choose to connect yourself to and to investigate this subculture in a larger research paper called an autoethnography.

For this immediate assignment, I would like you to identify two subcultures that you are currently a part of and that you would find interesting to research. For each of the subcultures you identify, I would like you to give a brief description (three to four lines or more if necessary) that gives an overview of what the subculture is and your position in the subculture (how long you’ve been a part of it and how you feel about it).

From these two options, you will be choosing a topic for your final research paper. We will be sharing these ideas with the entire class. Please be as specific as possible. Your topics must fulfill the following criteria:

You must be able to do background and preliminary research on your topics. In other words, written and visual material must be readily available for analysis.

Topics must be local and accessible.

There must be a place, field site, or event space for the topic that you will be able to visit at least twice during the semester.

There must be at least two people you can interview who have different roles relevant to the topic.

Topics must be new and cannot overlap with research topics in any other course work.

Interviewing

The purpose of the interview is to help you gain insight into the perspective of another member of your subculture. This can be valuable on a number of levels and for a number of reasons. It can help you understand the subculture more as an outsider, offer additional information you can use to examine your own positionality, and provide interesting narrative content for the final project.

As you plan for your interview, consider what information you would like to get out of the interview, and write out your questions accordingly.

For this assignment, write up a minimum of ten questions you plan to ask your interviewee. Make sure the questions are in an order that is logical. This will allow you to know what you intend to get out of an interview and enable you to adapt when an interviewee inadvertently answers more than one question at a time or shares information you would like to ask about in greater depth.

Make sure you ask leading questions rather than questions that can be answered with one-word responses. It is helpful to incorporate phrases such as these into your interview questions: “Tell me a story about the time…”; “Can you explain in detail when…”; “Describe your favorite memory about . . “; “At length, describe….”

This kind of questioning will help your interviewee to feel comfortable and willing to share more information about which you can then ask follow-up questions.

Interviews can be conducted in various ways: through online chats, via telephone or in person. Each method has its own plusses and minuses, so be aware that they will yield different products.

In-person interviews are usually the most productive in that they allow you to take notes on the interviewee’s manner, dress and composure in addition to getting your verbal answers. The benefit on online interviews conducted in writing is that they are already written up for you, and the task of writing up in-person interviews is time-consuming. You will miss out on observation details, however, in any form that is not face-to-face.

Please bring to class at least one set of questions with a brief description of whom you will be interviewing, what you already know about that person and what you would like to learn from her or him. Ultimately, you will be picking two people to interview and writing questions for each interview.

Observations

When we engage in autoethnographic writing, it is important to try to re-create the spaces we are visiting—in other words, to explore the field sites where we are spending our time.

As part of our larger assignment, you need to identify a field site that will be relevant for your subculture. This can be a location where it meets, a place where history, event or memory is held.

For this assignment, I want you to walk into a space or event related to your subculture and spend at least twenty minutes there. You will be engaging in a stream-of-consciousness freewrite, making notes on everything you experience with your five senses. As in earlier assignments, I will then ask you to create a narrative from the details you have noted.

Rely on all five of your senses to convey not just what the space looks like but what it feels like. Sight, smell, touch, sight, sound are all important to consider as we try to re-create an environment we are experiencing for an outsider. Do not edit! Just write for the entire twenty minutes in the space without picking up your pen or pencil or relinquishing your keyboard, and see what you come up with!

As you did with earlier assignments, you should write the narrative version of your notes as close to the time of observation as possible.

Putting It All Together

When trying to incorporate your research into a final paper, it is important to realize that you will not be using all of it. As in our essays earlier in the semester, you will be drawing on important pieces of it to make your larger arguments (parts of the observation, pieces of the interview, etc.). You should not try to use all of the information you gathered in the final paper. Any kind of personal and qualitative writing is about making choices and creating narratives and subtext while maintaining your own voice as a participant-observer.

The most important thing to do is to find common threads in your research, identify your main themes and use the information you have gathered, combined with your own narrative understanding or experience, to create your final piece.

Your final paper will end up being roughly six to ten pages long, given the amount of data you have collected. It is important to ask questions as you go through this final drafting process, so please feel free to contact me at any point about concerns and ideas.

When transcribing interviews, please include only your questions and the full responses that will appear as quotes or paraphrases in your final paper. Since transcribing is time-consuming, this will be the most efficient use of your time. I ask you to attach these documents as well as the observations you completed to the final paper.

You will be asked to present your findings and read a brief piece of your project on the last day of class.

Student Samples

These essays went through multiple drafts at each point. Observations, interviews, and the final draft were all peer and instructor reviewed.

Adriana explores Anarchism in New York.

Tyana explores the group Student Activists Ending Dating Abuse (SAEDA).

Hannah explores the world of computer programmers.

Heather explores the world of Bronies.

Jillian explores modern artistic taxidermy.

Emma explores a religious institution for the first time.

William explores the world of Manhattan Drag.

Joomi explores National Novel Writing Month.

Justine explores the world of Manhattan-based metal band Steel Paradise.

Neziah Doe explores science culture on YouTube.

Teaching Autoethnography: Personal Writing in the Classroom Copyright © by Melissa Tombro is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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40 Most Interesting Ethnographic Research Topics

Finding A-grade examples of ethnographic research topics may not be a walk in the park for college students.

The way of writing an effective ethnographic paper depends on the points discussed below.

So, here is a ready solution.

What is an Ethnographic Research Paper?

Ethnography is a social science method of research that counts on personal experiences within a subject group or a culture. Different instructors may recommend several writing guidelines for such a paper, but it generally follows a standard format. Such an arrangement incorporates a proper analysis and evaluation of the problem. Before we embark on learning how to write an ethnography, let us have a look at an ethnographic essay outline.

Structure of an Ethnographic Essay

The paper should follow the outline below: Introduction It is where you introduce your thesis statement, which is the main idea of the whole project. A proper ethnographic research topic would form a strong foundation for this part. The reader should be able to see an overview of what to expect in the essay. Methodology In this part, you explain how you did your research. Mention all the tools used and why you settled on them. It should be detailed and even a couple of in such a way that the reader can verify the information you used. Presentation and Analysis of Collected Data The findings should be placed on the table first. They should be in a logical manner, beginning with the essential facts. After that, analyze and precisely interpret the data. Let your readers know your criteria for interpretation before you start. Conclusion Different ethnographic research paper topics have different endings. However, the standard procedure is that you reiterate the most important points. Ensure that they are presented in an original way to make your conclusion not to look like a reversed introduction. That is the first part; however, finding quality examples of ethnographic research topics is another battle. Yet, don’t panic, we’ve got a legion of professional soldiers to cover your back on this.

We are going to explore a list of ethnography topics in clusters of ten each to prompt you for more. Get that notebook as we embark on this exciting experience. The items strive to meet your high school and college ethnography topics requirements.

Let’s get right into it, gang.

We will start with the easiest ones as we slowly advance to the technical topics. There is something for everybody!

Easy Ethnography Topics for High School

A study of the incisor tooth
The best careers that people can settle on in 2023
A survey of the lifestyle of a teacher
A study of the health benefits of taking water daily
A look at the importance of the sun to children
How greetings are in Africa
A study of the eating habits of dogs and cats
A comparison of the red meat and white meat
How wealthy children compare to needy children in academic performance
A look at how children behave at home versus in school

Interesting Ethnography Topics for College

An ethnographic study of the Chinese diets
The inner perspective of the culture of skateboarders
Critical issues on the social, cultural experience of the dancing
How nurses make sense of their caring abilities on the job
A study of how second-hand merchants impact the bookselling industry
Evaluating the satisfaction of a patient with the quality of care in a hospital
What myths and misconceptions surround the global connection
A study on the effect of uniforms in schools
How language impacts culture
A survey of qualitative sampling in data collection

Great Mini Ethnography Topics

How have malls changed the shopping sector?
Racism and its effects on campus
Values promoted by media productions
How cultural productions interpret the history
A study of the communities in New York
Teamwork and its impact on football
Reasons for differences in families
How service staff view people
Lives and cultures of the hotel industry
How immigrants express their identity
The view of people on gays
Adjustments made by women to fit in societies
Homeschooling and low grades
Hunting as a rite of passage
Wrestling and men
Concerts and teens
Cultural differences between different ethnic groups
How political clubs are changing
A study of street children in Africa
Politics and the U.S

How to write an effective ethnographic paper depends on the points discussed above. There are several ethnography paper examples online to give you more ideas on what you can write. Do not limit yourself to the topics above; create more unique ones on your own.

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255 Original Ethnographic Essay Topics & Ethnography Project Ideas for College Students

Ethnography is a qualitative study field that investigates socio-cultural relations in a specific human community. The research methods involve fieldwork and participant observation. That means that ethnographers must immerse themselves in everyday life of the people they’re studying. Thus, researchers interview and regard the locals while documenting the data about them and their social aspects.

This field is crucial for anthropology and the creation of anthropological theories. Through ethnography, we can document the range of people’s livelihoods, cultures, and practices. It allows us to observe, examine, and empathize with different human experiences.

If you have studied ethnography, you probably know this is a very extensive subject. In this article, our team has collected ethnographic essay topics and research titles. We also listed tips to help you explore and approach your academic paper. You can browse through them as you decide on the best ethnography topic.

🔝 Top 21 Ethnography Topic Examples

🔎 Interesting Research Topics
📊 Topic Ideas for Comparative Essays

💻 Digital Ethnography Topics

❓ Ethnographic Research Questions

✏️ Ethnographic Research Ideas for College Students

💡 ethnography project ideas, 🎓 examples of ethnographic research topics in education, 📜 more topics for ethnographic research paper, 📝 ethnographic essay: plan of action, 🔗 references.

The homeless population in the UK.
Global Diversity: Importance of Cultural Differences.
Cultural practices of the Hadza people.
Culture and Diversity in Education.
Evolution of the Spanish language in Mexico.
Literary Techniques and Ethnicity Role in Screenwriting.
Differences between Chinese and Indian parents.
Tattoo significance of the Maori.
Culture, Globalization, and Intercultural Adaptation.
Jewish immigrants in the West.
Essential Elements of Ethnography.
Nursing home culture in the US.
The purpose of ethnography.
Impact of Culture on the American Family System and Structure.
Rituals of the Japanese tea ceremony.
Burial rites of the Toraja people.
American Culture Reflection in Sport.
The struggles of the Muslim population in France.
Culture and Representations: Why Culture and Representation Matter.
Religious practices of American Buddhists.
Ethnic Groups and Discrimination.

🔎 Interesting Examples of Ethnographic Research Topics

The social dynamics of a small business owner’s community.
The cultural practices of Zoroastrian communities.
The Effects of Diverse Culture of a Business in UAE.
Does globalization impact the cultural traditions of indigenous tribes?
The daily life of a group of street vendors in a city.
Anthropology: The Culture of the People of River Front.
The impact of gentrification on a neighborhood’s community.
The cultural differences between various generations within a family.
Discrimination and marginalization as experienced by the furry subculture.
The Cultural Diversity- Tool That Influences Organizational Culture.
The relationships and communication patterns in an office setting.
What role do social media play in toddler development?
Human Behavior and Culture: The Relationship Analysis.
The impact of tourism on the culture of Australian aboriginal tribes.
The social dynamics of an international university.
Ancient Rome: History and Culture.
Social adaptation and communication patterns exhibited by international students.
The role of traditions in the daily life of an indigenous village.
The impact of technology on social interactions in underdeveloped nations.
Academic Motivation: Ethnic Teaching in Dutch Schools.
Perspectives of Amish voluntary converts on modern technological development.
The cultural differences between rural and urban areas of Russia.
Culture, Cultural Identity and Related Phenomena.
The impact of immigration on the cultural dynamics in Germany.
The role of gender in social interactions within Muslim communities.
The use of music as a coping mechanism for individuals experiencing trauma or mental illness.
‘Native Americans: Traditional Healing’.
The social dynamics of the Knotfest music festival.
The role of sports in community building in Argentina.
The Influence of Globalization on Arab Culture.
The evolution of music festival culture in the United States over the past 50 years.
Does music contribute to shaping the gender identities of American adolescents?
Ethnicity and Religion Impact on the Second Language Acquisition of Muslims Males.
The impact of mobilization on warfare perspectives in the Russian population.
Heritage and Culture in African American Literature.
The use of music as a tool for social activism and political resistance.
The impact of social media on the spread of Islamic fundamentalism.
The cultural practices and traditions of Native American holidays.
Celebration of Eid Al-Fitr: Its Importance, Traditions, and Meaning.
Investigating gender and power dynamics within Amish households.
The role of anonymity in the construction of “alcoholic” identity.
The role of religion in anonymous alcoholics’ recovery.
White Non-Hispanics: Ethnic Groups Discrimination Immigration.
Examining the role of identity performance in LGBTQ+ online communities.
Organizational Culture and Diversity Within the Modern MNC.
The role of traditional healers in Afro-Caribbean religious communities.
Religious attitudes within Death and Black Metal communities.
The cultural practices and traditions of QAnon members.
The significance of faith for LGBTQ+ individuals within conservative religious communities.
Ethnic Identity in Asian American Fiction Authors.

📊 Ethnography Topic Ideas for Comparative Essays

How do wedding traditions differ in China and the US?
Comparing Mexican and American neighborhoods.
Multicultural vs. Citizenship Education.
Different attitudes toward the afterlife between Christians and Hindus.
How have school rules changed over the last 20 years?
Race and Ethnic Gangs in Chicago vs. Los Angeles.
Women’s roles in matriarchal and patriarchal societies.
Comparison of gender roles in Western and Eastern cultures.
Critical features of American and Chinese fairy tales.
Cohabitation Versus Traditional Marriages.
Popular children’s games in the US and Australia.
How does street design differ in American and European cities?
Comparing business etiquette in the US and Japan.
The Parisian Culture: European and Islamic Cultures.
Differences in mealtime traditions between America and China.
Dress codes in American and Japanese schools.
Comparison of soccer and baseball fans.
Tradition and Innovation in Chinese Visual Arts.
Differences in socializing of homeschoolers and traditional school students.
Comparing video gaming practices of children and adults.
Differences Between Slavery and Indentured Servitude.
A typical day for families with and without children.
Analysis of Cultures: Deaf Culture, White Culture, and Black Culture.
Urban parks in New York City and Shanghai.
Family meals in single-parent and two-parent families.
Differences in leisure time between young men and women.
Illegal Immigration: Arizona v. United States Case.
Shopping habits of Millennials and Baby Boomers.
Concepts of beauty in ancient Greece and modern America.
Hobbies popular among single and married people.
Emmett Scott High School’s Social vs. Academic Culture.
Shopping experiences of people with and without visual impairments.
Comparing New Year celebrations in the US and China.
A typical day for a rural and urban resident.
Modern vs. Traditional or Alternative Medicine.
Caregiving practices in African American versus Hispanic communities.
Differences between Japanese and American restaurant culture.
Cultural and Linguistic Differences in Education.
Comparing sports of Native and modern Americans.
The life of Germans before and after World War II.
Differences Between the Brazilian and American Cultures.
Differences in parenting practices between the US and China.
How does humor differ in Western and Eastern cultures?
Comparing attitudes toward immigrants in the US and Russia.
Different perceptions of motherhood in Eastern and Western cultures.
Egypt Families in Changed and Traditional Forms.
Principles and practice of digital ethnography .
Application of modern technologies to social study through digital ethnography.
Advice on conducting digital ethnography during pandemics.
Three lies of digital ethnographies.
Addressing the Cultural Disconnect in Online Learning for First Nations Students in Canada.
Digital ethnography in a group project: Ethical considerations.
Electronic ethnography and media usage.
Digital ethnography to strengthen empirical reasoning.
Evaluation of a Digital Library: A Case Study.
Medical students using Twitter for professional development: A digital ethnography.
Questioning “digital ethnography” in the age of omnipresent computers.
Modern ethnographic digital techniques for social research.
The Relationship Between Culture and Technology.
Research on the third sector using digital ethnography.
The social network on the dark web using digital ethnography.
Foreignism, Media, Imperialism Influence on Culture.
In the era of information warfare, digital ethnography.
Using embedded visual techniques to reveal consumer values considering digital ethnography.
Methodological approaches in the digital ethnography of young culture.
Influence of Culture and Technology on the Stage Design.
Cybercrime research using digital ethnography: Nomadic digital ethnography and engagement.
Millennials, young people, and international research collectives.
Digital Knowledge Platforms Versus Traditional Education Systems.
COVID-19 pandemic digital ethnography.
The use of digital ethnography to improve the Erasmus+ mobility program.
Teach for America’s digital ethnography.
Social Networks Trends for Reducing Language Barriers.
A mixed-methods approach to digital ethnography using semantic social networks.
Conducting ethnographic studies in the digital era.
Case studies, ideas, and concepts related to digital ethnography.
Popular Culture, Commercialization and Industrialization.
Best practice guidelines for digital ethnography in intercultural professional communication.
Digital ethnography and online gaming.
Online learning as a digital ethnography of virtual social distance.
Digital ethnographic methodologies in residential settings: Methodological and ethical considerations.
Understanding how faculty members use digital ethnography for professional development.
Principles of Museum in Contemporary and Digital Art.
Analyzing trends socio-computationally to comprehend digital ethnography online videos.
Stand-up comedy’s perspective on racism: A digital ethnography of Netflix.
The study of language, gender, and sexuality using digital ethnography.
Social Media Role in Promoting Social Change.
Cross-cultural digital ethnography interpretation: The role of the religious context.
A digital ethnography of Instagram: likes, hashtags, comments, and publics.

❓ Examples of Ethnographic Research Questions

Do indigenous populations’ experiences differ in the US and Australia?
How can Eastern and Western cultures enrich each other?
What Is the Effect of Music on Culture?
What are the challenges faced by young and older immigrants?
How can society facilitate social justice for Australian Indigenous people?
What are the dietary patterns of Western and Eastern cultures?
What Are the Immigration and Ethnic Relations in the US?
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect ethnic minority groups?
What are the ethical issues associated with ethnographic research?
How did the Japanese occupation influence Korean traditions?
How Do Refugees Affect the Host Country?
What are the ethnic identities of children from immigrant families?
How do cultures worldwide differ regarding shame, guilt, and fear?
How Do Various Races and Ethnicities View the Library?
What are the examples of social injustice towards Indigenous populations?
How do history and ethnography complement each other?
What Are the Changes in Pop Culture?
What are the experiences of Chinese students in Western universities?
How do immigrant families maintain the traditions of their cultures?
What Are the Origins of Hip-Hop Culture?
What are the healing practices of Latin American ethnic groups?
How do Mexican immigrants interact with the US healthcare system?
What Is the Nature of the Racial and Ethnic Inequality?
What are the history and current state of ethnographic research?
How do refugees from African countries adjust in Europe?
What’s the Importance of Ethnic Diversity and Cultural Competence in Nursing?
What are the specifics of Mexican American ethnicity?
How does Amazonian brew ayahuasca help in addressing substance addiction?
What are the three ethnic groups prevalent in the US?
What Are the Pressures for and Against a Common EU Immigration Policy?
How does ethnographic research help in understanding different cultures?
What can American citizens learn from Chinese culture?
What challenges do Latin American immigrants face in the US?
What Are the Racial, Ethnic, Cultural and Linguistic Issues in Psychology?
What do US citizens know about ethnic minority groups’ experiences?
What does workplace spirituality mean for Indian employees?
What is Korean individuals’ migration decision-making regarding the US?
What Is the Connection Between Interracial Marriages and Immigration?
What obstacles are faced by English as a Second Language students?
Why do Indigenous people in Australia have trouble accessing water?
How does foreign religion affect native culture?
Analysis of social interactions in shopping malls.
The formation of youth subcultures in urban areas.
What are the peculiarities of the organization of community festivals?
Analyzing the communication patterns in cyberspace.
The culture of sports fandom and its key features.
The challenges of people experiencing homelessness within specific communities.
What is the role of political clubs in society?
Analyzing local stories that reveal cultural values.
The influence of immigration on the cultural dynamics in the USA.
The analysis of the perception of children from low-income families.
How do famous people impact the viewpoints of their fans?
Analysis of teenage behavior in school and at home.
The value of religion in anonymous alcoholics’ recovery.
The peculiarities of community dynamics in a small town or village.
The culture and customs of indigenous people.
Analyzing habits of elementary school children.
How did people perceive the concept of death in the past?
The origins of women’s roles in different societies.
Service staff and their particular view on the visitors.
How do immigrants express their identity in a foreign country?
The peculiarities of social interactions of employees at a business consulting agency.
What are the social customs of motorcycle riders?
The pitfalls in interprofessional teamwork practice among nurses.
The peculiarities of family structure among Muslims.
Analyzing people in a local retirement home.
The career choices of people with higher IQs.
How do individuals communicate during their journeys on public transportation?
Observing medical personnel in a high-volume hospital.
The inner perspective of the culture of gamers.
The social and cultural dynamics of a high school classroom.
Analyzing the lifestyle of a high school teacher.
How do children of wealthy parents behave in the education system?
The use of modern technology in the learning process and its benefits.
How do schools respond to the cultural differences of their students?
The peculiarities of school culture in urban areas.
How does social media impact school relations?
The role of teachers in the formation of the identity of students.
The experience of learning and teaching in an inclusive class.
How do teachers and students interact with each other in elementary school?
The concept of social status in any African community.
What are the key health beliefs and myths in the modern society?
The view of the American black community on racist narratives.
The role of media representation in spreading stereotypes.
The impact of religious beliefs and practices on everyday lives.
How does social class shape our experiences of life?
The role of art and music in expressing cultural values.
Analyzing the lifestyle of a lawyer with a successful career.
The main greeting gestures in native Chinese societies.
The connection between urban planning and social segregation.
The efficiency of online communities in providing support for people with shared experiences.
The experiences of people living with ADHD.
What factors influence the physical health of teenagers?
Analyzing the physical outlook of a smoker at a young age.
The peculiarities of polygamous marriages in different Asian societies.

Before writing an academic paper, you should have a clear plan. It is especially beneficial for ethnographic essays, as it is a complex study field. Below, we have described how to approach this assignment.

Things to Consider

After choosing your ethnography topic, the first step is to ask yourself why it matters . Consider what you are attempting to achieve by writing your paper. Who will be your audience? What do you want them to learn?
Once you have this in mind, write down the questions you hope to answer with your research. They will help you keep your essay or research paper focused.
Take note of your pre-existing assumptions about your topic. Everyone has personal biases. It is essential to be aware of them when writing an ethnography essay.

Things to Do

Thorough research is essential to writing a successful paper. It is best to refer to first-hand accounts , which offer the most insight. However, secondary sources can also be valuable for background reading. You can use our online summary generator to save time reading through them.
Try to find authors with different perspectives . This way, you will likely get a well-rounded impression of the chosen topic.
Pay attention to how the writers refer to and describe the people they study. You should always question their findings and keep track of their own biases.

Thank you for reading this article. We hope you have managed to find a good ethnography topic idea for your paper. Need a little help putting together your essay title or research question? Try out our handy paraphraser tool !

What is Ethnography? – Anthropology@Princeton, Princeton University
Ethnographic Research – The University of Virginia
Ethnography – Writing Studio, Thompson Writing Program, Duke University
What Is Ethnographic Research? — National Park Service
Ethnography: Challenges and Opportunities — BMJ Journals
Ethnographic Study: Qualitative Studies — GOV.UK

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What Is Ethnography? | Meaning, Guide & Examples

What Is Ethnography? | Meaning, Guide & Examples

Published on 6 May 2022 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 6 April 2023.

Ethnography is a type of qualitative research that involves immersing yourself in a particular community or organisation to observe their behaviour and interactions up close. The word ‘ethnography’ also refers to the written report of the research that the ethnographer produces afterwards.

This type of research could sometimes last for years. For example, Colin M. Turnbull lived with the Mbuti people for three years in order to write the classic ethnography The Forest People .

For example, ethnographic research (sometimes called participant observation ) has been used to investigate football fans , call centre workers , and police officers .

Advantages of ethnography

By becoming immersed in a social environment, you may have access to more authentic information and spontaneously observe dynamics that you could not have found out about simply by asking.

Disadvantages of ethnography

There are often also ethical considerations to take into account: for example, about how your role is disclosed to members of the group, or about observing and reporting sensitive information.

Should you use ethnography in your research?

If you’re a student who wants to use ethnographic research in your thesis or dissertation , it’s worth asking yourself whether it’s the right approach:

Could the information you need be collected in another way (e.g., a survey , interviews)?
How difficult will it be to gain access to the community you want to study?
How exactly will you conduct your research, and over what timespan?
What ethical issues might arise?

If you do decide to do ethnography, it’s generally best to choose a relatively small and easily accessible group, to ensure that the research is feasible within a limited time frame.

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

There are a few key distinctions in ethnography which help to inform the researcher’s approach: open vs closed settings, overt vs covert ethnography, and active vs passive observation. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Open vs closed settings

The setting of your ethnography – the environment in which you will observe your chosen community in action – may be open or closed.

An open or public setting is one with no formal barriers to entry. For example, you might consider a community of people living in a certain neighbourhood, or the fans of a particular football team.

Gaining initial access to open groups is not too difficult …
… but it may be harder to become immersed in a less clearly defined group.

A closed or private setting is harder to access. This may be for example a business, a school, or a cult.

A closed group’s boundaries are clearly defined and the ethnographer can become fully immersed in the setting …
… but gaining access is tougher; the ethnographer may have to negotiate their way in or acquire some role in the organisation.

Overt vs covert ethnography

Most ethnography is overt . In an overt approach, the ethnographer openly states their intentions and acknowledges their role as a researcher to the members of the group being studied.

Overt ethnography is typically preferred for ethical reasons, as participants can provide informed consent …
… but people may behave differently with the awareness that they are being studied.

Sometimes ethnography can be covert . This means that the researcher does not tell participants about their research, and comes up with some other pretence for being there.

Covert ethnography allows access to environments where the group would not welcome a researcher …
… but hiding the researcher’s role can be considered deceptive and thus unethical.

Active vs passive observation

An active role involves trying to fully integrate, carrying out tasks and participating in activities like any other member of the community.

Active participation may encourage the group to feel more comfortable with the ethnographer’s presence …
… but runs the risk of disrupting the regular functioning of the community.

A passive role is one in which the ethnographer stands back from the activities of others, behaving as a more distant observer and not involving themselves in the community’s activities.

Passive observation allows more space for careful observation and note-taking …
… but group members may behave unnaturally due to feeling they are being observed by an outsider.

An important consideration for ethnographers is the question of access. The difficulty of gaining access to the setting of a particular ethnography varies greatly:

To gain access to the fans of a particular sports team, you might start by simply attending the team’s games and speaking with the fans.
To access the employees of a particular business, you might contact the management and ask for permission to perform a study there.
Alternatively, you might perform a covert ethnography of a community or organisation you are already personally involved in or employed by.

Flexibility is important here too: where it’s impossible to access the desired setting, the ethnographer must consider alternatives that could provide comparable information.

This might be someone in a high position at an organisation allowing you access to their employees, or a member of a community sponsoring your entry into that community and giving advice on how to fit in.

However, i f you come to rely too much on a single informant, you may be influenced by their perspective on the community, which might be unrepresentative of the group as a whole.

Field notes record any and all important data: phenomena observed, conversations had, preliminary analysis. For example, if you’re researching how service staff interact with customers, you should write down anything you notice about these interactions – body language, phrases used repeatedly, differences and similarities between staff, customer reactions.

Field notes should be as detailed and clear as possible. It’s important to take time to go over your notes, expand on them with further detail, and keep them organised (including information such as dates and locations).

The structure of an ethnography

An ethnography can take many different forms: It may be an article, a thesis, or an entire book, for example.

The content of an ethnography

The goal of a written ethnography is to provide a rich, authoritative account of the social setting in which you were embedded – to convince the reader that your observations and interpretations are representative of reality.

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89 Ethnographic Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best ethnographic topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 interesting topics to write about ethnographic, 👍 good essay topics on ethnographic, ❓ ethnographic research questions.

Ethnographic essays are an excellent way to show your understanding of the science and the relationships that form a particular development or situation. You have to display your knowledge of anthropology and how it influences a particular population group based on a variety of circumstances.

There are many factors that can affect a group of people, including their geographic location, climate, relationships with other groups, numbers, and more. As such, compiling them to form a logical conclusion can be an overwhelming task.

The complex relationships between different variables may appear relevant when they are not and vice versa. However, there are several tips that will let you write an outstanding essay.

You should try to determine the root causes behind the formation of a particular culture or phenomenon and work outwards from them. For example, overpopulation does not generally occur without a definite reason, as human populations tend to regulate themselves.

Once you identify that it is present, search for causes such as immigration, poverty, or sudden removal of a threat. After you identify the reason, you can mention it in your essay before overpopulation and use the two to develop a logical argument.

In doing so, you will establish a link and introduce a structure to your essay. The relationships may even provide you with ethnographic essay ideas that you may explore in detail.

Here are some tips for your writing process:

Write a clear and concise thesis that will describe the topic of your essay and include it at the end of the introduction. It will help the reader understand what you are discussing early on and evaluate your arguments.
Try to focus on one specific option among different ethnographic essay topics and have every point you make support it. The goal of the essay is to defend ideas, and deviations into unrelated matters serve as distractions. The reader will not appreciate a deviation from the subject matter into unknown territory.
Separate the body of your essay into sections with concise and descriptive titles. A structure that divides the paper by topics makes navigation easier in case the reader wants to revisit your essay later.
Remember that you are writing about ethnography, the study of cultures. While it may be tempting to concentrate on the circumstances of a specific group, your goal is to explain its practices and traditions. As such, you have to provide concrete examples of how a behavior emerged to suit the population’s needs.
Make sure to cite relevant scholarly research whenever you want to make a statement of fact. Today’s science is founded on the achievements of past researchers, and their findings should not be taken as universal truths.

These considerations will help you improve your essay while you write it, reducing the workload and letting you achieve better results. The paper you will produce by following the tips will be easy to read and comprehend and show your understanding of the topic.

It will also demonstrate that you have studied the relevant sources and obtained accurate data for the formation of your conclusions.

However, you may struggle to write an essay from nothing using just these suggestions, as they require that you have some notion of the ideas you will discuss. For inspiration, visit IvyPanda to find ethnographic essay examples and other useful paper samples!

Ethnographic and Phenomenological Approaches to Research Ethnographic research is an approach to data collection and analysis that aims at evaluating and categorizing human experiences through the lens of the participants’ cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Ethnographic Research Methods Participant observation can be defined as a qualitative method in ethnology research that is used by researchers in the areas of cultural anthropology in which the researcher in given the opportunity to get a close […]
Ethnographic Design: Characteristics According to Abalos, “ethnography is the in depth study of naturally occurring behavior within a culture or a social group; it seeks to understand the relationship between culture and behavior, with culture referring to beliefs, […]
A Critical Review of Ethnographic Analysis The difference between these two techniques is transparent: in the case of open observation, the group of respondents knows that the researcher is conducting an analysis and is aware of its goals, whereas covert observation […]
Barker’s Ethnographic Exposé: Revealing Structural Violence Against the Marshallese Barker’s study of the Marshallese people and their victimization by the U.S.government is an outstanding demonstration of how ethnographic research and writing should be conducted.
Ethnographic Design: Types The investigator is required to define the characteristics of the society under study. Abalos, argues that “critical ethnographic studies are a type of ethnographic research in which the author is interested in advocating for the […]
Clement Restaurant: Ethnographic Description The ethnographic analysis will be added with a demographic review of the region in order to identify whether the business success is stipulated by the ethnographic background of the restaurants, or the population that is […]
Ethnographic Prospects in Teaching and Learning Such a controversial view on the approaches taken in the research complies with the changeability of the social life at the moment.
Ethnographic Interview of the Costa Rican People The analysis of the social environment is the important aspect of realizing the cultural background and the social problems of the clients.
Tourism Management as an Ethnographic Theme Thus, as it is stated in some of the interview, tourists generally expect the attitude of obeisance towards them, and the workers of the tourism sphere feel themselves as the obedient servants.
Hong Kong Street Food in Ethnographic Studies Bronislaw Malinowski is often cited as one of the first practitioners of this method during his research of the people of Papua New Guinea.
Mayan Culture in Ethnographic Interpretation The Mayan elders were charged with the responsibility of safeguarding the traditions of the people and overseeing all the cultural practices.
The Kurds Culture: An Ethnographic Study The most popular of the two dialects is the Kurmanji, it is the language of communication for most of the Kurds today.
Mesoamerican Ethnographic Interpretation The civilization of these people faced strong influences from the people in the non-Maya cultures which include the Olmecs of Mexico and the Izapa cultures of people who lived in the Pacific coast.
Mayan Ethnographic Interpretation: Traditions and Rituals According to The Mayan culture, the human body was viewed as a combination of the body and the souls. This means that the blood could communicate to the inner and the outer environment of the […]
Navajo Ethnographic and Ethnological Studies The story is preserved in myths and is recounted in the ceremony known as ‘blessing way’ which is the foundation of the Navajo way of life.
Ethnographic State in India He stated that their ignorance of the customs and beliefs of the Indian people had a hit against the British and that this had resulted to a distant loss of administrative power to British government.
Cheyenne Indians History and Culture Furthermore, it was to emphasize the unique powers and the superiority of the chief priests and the prophets in the community.
The Significance of Ethnographic Observation Thus, Arthur concentrates on the role of women in the use of lithics and the role of females in the development of Prehistoric communities, whereas Sillitoe and Hardy study the use of stone tools and […]
Ethnographic Research: Coming of Age in Samoa Considering Margaret Mead’s ethnography, Coming of Age in Samoa, it is possible to say that dwelling upon that society she paid much attention to religion, education, upbringing and relation to each other within a family, […]
Ethnographic Field Notes from Starbucks The two large supermarkets, the large pharmacy, the three playgrounds, the community garden, the eclectic shopping and night life of South Street itself, the mural art of Isaiah Zagar, and other attractions, all pull a […]
Ethnographic reflection Mixing the scientific and humanistic approaches and implementing the anthropological framework and the concept of the bio-cultural triad for covering various sides of life of Beaver community, Brody uses dialogic procedures for depicting and explaining […]
Twin Oaks Intentional Community Ethnographic Analysis It was through field work that the community was noted as one of the intentional communities. One of the main lessons learnt was their effort to bring gender equality in the community.
Understanding the Science of Ethnographic Through Oneirology
An Overview of the Dream State and the Concept of Human Ethnographic
Understanding the Unconcious Ethnographic
The Beauty Of Ethnographic: How Dreams Drive The Individual
The Skeptical Ethnographic Argument of Rene Descartes, and the Priori and the Posteriori
Ethnographic And Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
An Overview of the Controversy of Ethnographics, a Cognitive Activity During Sleep
Animal Ethnographic And Substantiation A Connection To Humanity
The Psychological Theories Of The Function Of Ethnographic
The Ethnographic and Traditional Aboriginal Spirituality
Sleeping and Ethnographic and Theories of Sleep
Ethnographic Is Known As The Journey Your Mind
The Centrality of the Ethnographic and Its Importance for Aboriginal Spirituality
The Benefits Of Lucid Ethnographic
Procrastination and Day Ethnographic
Comparing and Contrasting Psychological Theories of Ethnographic
Ethnographic as a Significant Process in Human Life Experience
The Use of Illusion Argument, Ethnographic Argument, and Evil Genius Argument by Descartes
Varieties of Lucid Ethnographic Experience, by Stephen Laberge
Day Ethnographic in the Middle of the Summer Heat
Ethnographic Various Amount Of People Experiences Different Effects
Dreams, Ethnographic and Phases of Sleep
Freud’s Theory of Ethnographic and Repression
Synchroncities in the History of Paranormal Ethnographic
Dreams and Ethnographic Nightmares in Children
Gender And Ethnographic in Mapuche Shamanistic Practices
Phenomenology of Ethnographic
Descartes’ Meditations: Ethnographic and Evil Demon Arguments
How Is the Power of Dreams and Ethnographic in the Novel of Mice and Men
Difference Between Astral Projection And Lucid Ethnographic
The Significance of Land to the Ethnographic for Aboriginal People and the Impact of the Land Rights Movement
The Importance of Ethnographic and Sleeping
Ethnographics Can Bring Misery in the Great Gatsby By F. Scott
Exploring Causes of Sleep Difficulty and Ethnographic Problems
The Importance of Ethnographic and the Sub-Conscious
What Are the Problems and Constraints of Making Films on Ethnographics?
What Importance May the Sex of the Anthropologist Have on the Ethnographic Process?
What Does Ethnography Mean?
What Is an Ethnographic Example?
What Is Considered Ethnographic?
What Is Ethnography Used For?
What Is the Difference Between Ethnography and Anthropology?
Why Is Ethnography Critical in Research?
What Is Ethnography in Sociology?
What Is Ethnography in Social Research?
What Kind of Research Is Ethnography?
What Is a Synonym for Ethnography?
Is Ethnography a Research Design?
How Do You Use Ethnography in a Sentence?
When Did Ethnology Appear?
How Does Ethnography Work in Real Life?
What Are the Critical Characteristics of Ethnography?
What Is the Difference Between Phenomenology and Ethnography?
Who Was the First Ethnographer?
Who Is the Father of Ethnography?
How Do Ethnologists Study Culture?
What Is the Difference Between Archaeology and Ethnography?
What Is the Ethnological Argument?
Is Ethnography a Theory?
What Is the Weakness of Ethnography?
What Is the Difference Between Ethnography and Qualitative Research?
What Are the Problems With Traditional Ethnographic Film-Making?
What Is the Relationship Between Students and Teachers in Ethnographic?
What Are the Pros and Cons of Ethnographic Reflexivity?
What Are the Defining Activities and Principles of Ethnographic Research?
Intercultural Communication Questions
Social Change Topics
Cultural Relativism Questions
Stereotype Topics
Eugenics Questions
Organizational Behavior Research Topics
Demographics Topics
Sociological Perspectives Titles
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55 Ethnographic Essay Topics

Table of Contents

Ethnographic Essay Topics: A Comprehensive Guide

Ethnography is a fascinating field that delves into the study of cultures, societies, and human behaviors. An ethnographic essay allows writers to immerse themselves in different cultures and present findings in an engaging manner. If you’re struggling to pinpoint the right topic, this guide will walk you through some brilliant ideas and explain how to make your choice.

How to Choose the Best Ethnographic Essay Topic?

Modern ethnographers often hone in on specific aspects of cultures rather than trying to cover everything. Some focus on particular nations based on ethnicity, language, or geography, while others might delve into aspects like migration, interethnic relations, or religion across multiple cultures. To choose a topic, follow these steps:

Identify a Specific Theme : Decide on a particular cultural element you wish to explore. For instance, if you’re interested in rituals, you could delve into traditional wedding ceremonies in a particular region.

Research : Before diving in, spend some time online familiarizing yourself with your chosen cultural area. This will help you narrow down your topic and ensure it’s unique.

Personal Connection : Choose a topic that resonates with you or that you have a personal interest in. It will make your writing process more enjoyable and your essay more compelling.

Cultural Practices and Rituals

The significance of coming-of-age rituals in indigenous Australian tribes.
Wedding traditions and their symbolic meanings in Southeast Asia.
Culinary customs: Exploring the communal dining practices in the Middle East.
The role of music and dance in West African ceremonies.
Birth and naming ceremonies in Native American cultures.

Language and Communication

Sign language communities and their cultural significance in the U.S.
The oral storytelling traditions of the Maasai tribe.
How language preservation efforts shape cultural identity among the Welsh.
The evolution and modernization of the Gaelic language in Ireland.
The intricate art of Inuit throat singing and its societal implications.

Religion and Spirituality

Voodoo practices in Haiti: Beyond the misconceptions.
The intricate temple rituals of Balinese Hinduism.
Shamanic practices and their role in Mongolian tribal communities.
The blending of indigenous beliefs and Catholicism in the Philippines.
Pilgrimage trails and their socio-cultural importance in Tibetan Buddhism.

Economic and Social Structures

The role of marketplaces in shaping community ties in Morocco.
Barter trade systems and their continued relevance in Papua New Guinea.
Nomadic lifestyles and economic adaptations among the Bedouins.
The cultural significance of cowrie shells as currency in ancient Africa.
Traditional and modern coexistence: The tech hubs of Bangalore amidst age-old practices.

Art and Aesthetics

The cultural and spiritual significance of Polynesian tattoo art.
Maori wood carvings: A story of ancestry and legends.
The evolution of sari designs and weaving techniques in India.
The symbolism behind Native American totem poles.
Balinese mask-making: A blend of craft, drama, and spirituality.

Core Themes in Ethnography:

When considering your essay, you might want to explore some of these overarching themes:

The main goals and categories of ethnography.
The impact of the terrestrial environment on human development.
The intricate relationship between language and cultural traits.
The unique religious beliefs across global societies.
A study of paganism versus global religions.
An insight into primitive beliefs and regional religions.
The daily lives and traditions of different ethnic groups.
The history and significance of ethnonyms.

Should you find yourself still grappling with a topic, it can be valuable to seek guidance from experts. For top-quality essays crafted to perfection, our team at writeondeadline.com is at your disposal anytime. And if you’re racing against time or need professional input, our skilled writers are just a click away . Don’t hesitate to reach out!

Bibliography
More Referencing guides Blog Automated transliteration Relevant bibliographies by topics
Automated transliteration
Relevant bibliographies by topics
Referencing guides

Essays on Ethnography

Ethnographic essay topics and outline examples, essay title 1: unveiling cultural realities: an ethnographic study of [specific culture].

Thesis Statement: This ethnographic research paper provides an in-depth exploration of [specific culture], aiming to reveal the cultural practices, beliefs, social structures, and everyday life experiences of its members, while also shedding light on the impact of globalization and modernization.

Introduction
Research Context: Overview of [specific culture] and Its Significance
Research Methods: Participant Observation, Interviews, and Data Collection
Cultural Practices and Traditions: Rituals, Customs, and Social Norms
Community and Social Structure: Family, Hierarchy, and Social Roles
Impact of Globalization: Changes, Challenges, and Adaptations
Conclusion: Insights Gained and the Cultural Richness of [specific culture]

Essay Title 2: Urban Ethnography: Exploring the Dynamics of [Specific Urban Community]

Thesis Statement: This ethnographic study focuses on [specific urban community], examining the urban environment, social interactions, community networks, and the challenges and opportunities that residents encounter in their daily lives.

Research Context: Introduction to [specific urban community] and Its Demographics
Research Methods: Immersive Fieldwork, Surveys, and Ethnographic Data
Urban Landscape: Architecture, Public Spaces, and Neighborhood Characteristics
Community Bonds: Social Cohesion, Networks, and Support Systems
Challenges of Urban Life: Poverty, Gentrification, and Access to Resources
Aspirations and Resilience: Stories of Residents and Their Urban Experience
Conclusion: Understanding [specific urban community] and the Complex Urban Fabric

Essay Title 3: Ethnography of [Specific Subculture]: Navigating Identities, Belonging, and Expression

Thesis Statement: This ethnographic research paper explores the world of [specific subculture], shedding light on the subcultural identity, values, rituals, and modes of expression, while also examining the subculture's relationship with mainstream culture and the challenges it faces.

Subcultural Context: Introduction to [specific subculture] and Its Significance
Research Methods: Immersion, Interviews, and Documenting Subcultural Practices
Subcultural Identity: Shared Beliefs, Symbols, and Modes of Expression
Subculture vs. Mainstream Culture: Tensions, Resistance, and Integration
Subcultural Challenges: Stereotypes, Stigmatization, and Legal Issues
Subcultural Resilience: Community Building, Artistic Expression, and Social Change
Conclusion: Embracing the Diversity of [specific subculture] and Its Impact on Society

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The Concept of Feminist Ethnography

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Ethnography as Methods of Anthropology

Strengths and weaknesses of ethnography in relation to marxist geography, the analysis of ethnographic methods, the role of ethnography in jenkins work, autoethnography: a personal and cultural exploration, debating napoleon chagnon's ethnography: fieldwork among the yanomamo, analysis of "the white mans burden".

Ethnography (from Greek ἔθνος ethnos "folk, people, nation" and γράφω grapho "I write") is a branch of anthropology and the systematic study of individual cultures.

Ethnography explores cultural phenomena from the point of view of the subject of the study. Ethnographers mainly use qualitative methods, though they may also employ quantitative data. The typical ethnography is a holistic study and so includes a brief history, and an analysis of the terrain, the climate, and the habitat.

Gerhard Friedrich Müller developed the concept of ethnography as a separate discipline whilst participating in the Second Kamchatka Expedition (1733–43) as a professor of history and geography. Whilst involved in the expedition, he differentiated Völker-Beschreibung as a distinct area of study. This became known as "ethnography," following the introduction of the Greek neologism ethnographia by Johann Friedrich Schöpperlin.

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The Life of An Elementary School Principal: an Autoethnography
(2020). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 1162. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/1162 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Office of Graduate Studies at CSUSB ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations by an authorized
An Ethnographic Study of Intermediate Students from Poverty
An Ethnographic Study of Intermediate Students from Poverty: Intersections of School and Home by Shiela G. Rector A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership: Curriculum and Instruction Dissertation Committee: Christine Chaillé, Chair Anita Bright Samuel Henry
130 Ethnographic Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
130 Ethnographic Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. Ethnographic research is a method used by anthropologists and sociologists to study and understand different cultures and societies. This type of research involves immersing oneself in the culture being studied, participating in everyday activities, and observing social interactions.
15 Great Ethnography Examples (2024)
Argonauts of the Western Pacific - This study was notable because it presented a turn toward participant observation in ethnography rather than attempts at fly-on-the-wall objectivity. The Remembered Village - A study of caste systems in India, this study is most notable for its methodological influence.
PDF The Everyday Lives of Men: An Ethnographic Investigation of Young Adult
The purpose of this thesis was to contribute to new knowledge of these issues through an ethnographic exploration of two small sub-cultures of young adults. Utilising participant observation the researcher described in detail the ways in which masculinities were constructed in everyday life. The researcher spent over 2 years as a
Ethnography
Abstract. Embracing the trope of ethnography as narrative, this chapter uses the mythic story of Bronislaw Malinowski's early career and fieldwork as a vehicle through which to explore key aspects of ethnography's history and development into a distinct form of qualitative research. The reputed "founding father" of the ethnographic ...
What Is Ethnography?
Ethnography is a type of qualitative research that involves immersing yourself in a particular community or organization to observe their behavior and interactions up close. The word "ethnography" also refers to the written report of the research that the ethnographer produces afterwards. Ethnography is a flexible research method that ...
(Pdf) Ethnography Research: an Overview
ABSTRACT. The one of the major approaches of the Qualitative Research is Ethnography, sometimes known as Cultural. Anthropology or sometimes called as Naturalistic Enquiry. Its disciplinary origin ...
How to do Ethnography: Top tips for graduate school PhD students
Avoid relying too heavily on digital recorders too though, as transcribing can be a time-consuming endeavor. Additionally, reflect on your thoughts and feelings throughout the ethnographic process, maintaining a high level of self-awareness. 4. Exiting the Field: A Thoughtful Departure.
The Autoethnography: Ten Examples
Observations. When we engage in autoethnographic writing, it is important to try to re-create the spaces we are visiting—in other words, to explore the field sites where we are spending our time. As part of our larger assignment, you need to identify a field site that will be relevant for your subculture. This can be a location where it meets ...
Ethnographic Research Topics: Writing Tips And Best Examples
Easy Ethnography Topics for High School. A study of the incisor tooth. The best careers that people can settle on in 2023. A survey of the lifestyle of a teacher. A study of the health benefits of taking water daily. A look at the importance of the sun to children. How greetings are in Africa.
How to Write An Ethnography
A thesis. The thesis establishes the central theme and message of your research study. This will help organize your paper and integrate it around a single major idea.
255 Original Ethnographic Essay Topics & Ethnography Project Ideas
Ethnography is a qualitative study field that investigates socio-cultural relations in a specific human community. The research methods involve fieldwork and participant observation. That means that ethnographers must immerse themselves in everyday life of the people they're studying. Thus, researchers interview and regard the locals while ...
(PDF) Introduction: Ethnomethodology and Ethnography (Ethnographic
Abstract. This special issue is devoted to two central topics of Ethnographic Studies: ethnomethodology and ethnography. Both are addressed conceptually, reframed in different ways, and ...
What Is Ethnography?
Revised on 6 April 2023. Ethnography is a type of qualitative research that involves immersing yourself in a particular community or organisation to observe their behaviour and interactions up close. The word 'ethnography' also refers to the written report of the research that the ethnographer produces afterwards.
An Example of Ethnographic Research Methodology in Qualitative Data
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. 252 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1V6. January 01, 2021. Abstract. This chapter presents my methodological chapter as a great ...
89 Ethnographic Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
Ethnographic and Phenomenological Approaches to Research. Ethnographic research is an approach to data collection and analysis that aims at evaluating and categorizing human experiences through the lens of the participants' cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Ethnographic Research Methods.
55 Ethnographic Essay Topics and Ideas
Top Ethnographic Essay Topics: Exploring professional and ethical differences in gender indicators. Delving into Egyptian funeral rites and their cultural significance. The role and significance of traditional calendar rituals. Migration patterns and ethnocultural adaptation in the Jewish Autonomous Region in recent decades.
Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Ethnography (Research ...
This thesis approaches the understanding of the social element in software engineering by applying ethnomethodologically informed ethnography and ethnography. It is demonstrated how the ethnographic inquiry contributes to software engineering. Ethnography is also combined with an industrial cooperative method development approach.
Ethnography Essays
Ethnographic Essay Topics and Outline Examples Essay Title 1: Unveiling Cultural Realities: An Ethnographic Study of [Specific Culture] Thesis Statement: This ethnographic research paper provides an in-depth exploration of [specific culture], aiming to reveal the cultural practices, beliefs, social structures, and everyday life experiences of its members, while also shedding light on the ...

130 Ethnographic Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

15 Great Ethnography Examples

Ethnography Examples

My Favorite Ethnographic Research Books

2. Being Maori in the City

3. Ethnography of a Neoliberal School

4. Coming of Age in Samoa

5. Ghetto at the Center of the World

Additional Influential Ethnographic Studies

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What Is Ethnography? | Definition, Guide & Examples

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Advantages of ethnography

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Open vs. closed settings

Overt vs. covert ethnography

Active vs. passive observation

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The structure of an ethnography

The content of an ethnography

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The Autoethnography: Ten Examples

Interviewing

Observations

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40 Most Interesting Ethnographic Research Topics

What is an Ethnographic Research Paper?

Structure of an Ethnographic Essay

Easy Ethnography Topics for High School

Interesting Ethnography Topics for College

Great Mini Ethnography Topics

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255 Original Ethnographic Essay Topics & Ethnography Project Ideas for College Students

🔝 Top 21 Ethnography Topic Examples

💻 Digital Ethnography Topics

✏️ Ethnographic Research Ideas for College Students

🔎 Interesting Examples of Ethnographic Research Topics

📊 Ethnography Topic Ideas for Comparative Essays

❓ Examples of Ethnographic Research Questions

Things to Consider

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Have a language expert improve your writing

What Is Ethnography? | Meaning, Guide & Examples

Table of contents

Advantages of ethnography

Disadvantages of ethnography

Should you use ethnography in your research?

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

Open vs closed settings

Overt vs covert ethnography

Active vs passive observation

The structure of an ethnography

The content of an ethnography

Cite this Scribbr article

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

89 Ethnographic Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

55 Ethnographic Essay Topics

Ethnographic Essay Topics: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Choose the Best Ethnographic Essay Topic?

Top Ethnographic Essay Topics:

Cultural Practices and Rituals

Language and Communication

Religion and Spirituality

Economic and Social Structures

Art and Aesthetics

Core Themes in Ethnography:

Essays on Ethnography

Essay Title 2: Urban Ethnography: Exploring the Dynamics of [Specific Urban Community]

Essay Title 3: Ethnography of [Specific Subculture]: Navigating Identities, Belonging, and Expression

An Analysis of David Valentine's "Imagining Transgender"

Ethnomusicology and Music Education