Ethnographic performance and its flexibility in researching a traditional healing system in southern Thailand
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12645343 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Dusanee Suwankhong (0000-0002-9210-4282, Thaksin University, corresponding author), Pranee Liamputtong (0000-0003-0673-4497, La Trobe University) |
| Year | 2013 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 244-252 |
| Publication date | 2013-10-10 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Qualitative Research Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1443-9883 • E-ISSN: 1448-0980 |
| Publisher | Emerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1108/qrj-03-2013-0018 |
| OpenAlex | W2000957176 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 16 |
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the experience of carrying out an ethnographic research in the real world with six different participant groups from different backgrounds and embodying different expertise in traditional medicine. The paper will discuss why some approaches do not go well with some key informant groups and will demonstrate a suitable method that function better with those groups. The paper also argues that there is unpredictability of doing research in the real world, and this is crucial knowledge for novice researchers, and researchers who wish to embark on their research in different communities. Design/methodology/approach – Ethnography comprising of in-depth interviews, participant observation, focus group and unobtrusive methods. Findings – Listening to traditional healers’ explanation of their roles, patients’ perspectives of their treatments and the views of other participant groups will help us to understand the role of traditional healers, how effective their treatment is, and the possibilities for, and barriers to co-operation with the modern health care system. Ethnographic approach addresses deep understanding about cultural phenomena and issues in the real world because it captures everyday life and practices among local people. Practical implications – The principle of ethnography requires a researcher being in the field and living with the local people for a long period of time. This provides the researcher with the opportunity to learn and experience a new world on his/her own. Originality/value – Although the process of carrying out an ethnographic study is unpredictable, the methodological approach the paper employs in this study has resulted in valuable outcomes to a novice ethnographer. The paper would suggest to other novice ethnographers that this methodology is a very worthwhile approach in terms of exploring, learning and understanding the new world
Active listening · Epistemology · Ethnography · Everyday life · Flexibility (engineering · Focus group · Function (biology · Management · Originality · Participant observation · Political science · Process (computing · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Value (mathematics · Anthropology · Computer Science · Psychology · Qualitative Research Methods and Applications · Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics · Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies
Focus Group Methodology
Performing Qualitative Cross-Cultural Research
Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes
Focus Groups as Qualitative Research
Doing Ethnography
Researching the Vulnerable
Researching the Vulnerable
A Guide to Qualitative Field Research
The Use of Folk Healing and Healers by Six Latinos Living in New England
Medicine, Magic and Evil Spirits. Study of a Text on Thai Traditional Paediatrics
Being Ethnographic
Key Concepts in Ethnography
Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research
Snowball Sampling
The methodology of Focus Groups
| Highly cited | No |
|---|