Premium
Using multimethods ethnography to promote quality service and understand interactions among organizations
Author(s) -
Schneider Jo Anne
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
nonprofit management and leadership
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.844
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1542-7854
pISSN - 1048-6682
DOI - 10.1002/nml.118
Subject(s) - ethnography , generalizability theory , agency (philosophy) , sociology , sample (material) , work (physics) , participant observation , data collection , quality (philosophy) , knowledge management , process (computing) , public relations , management science , computer science , epistemology , social science , psychology , political science , developmental psychology , chemistry , mechanical engineering , philosophy , chromatography , anthropology , engineering , operating system , economics
Multimethods ethnography combines qualitative techniques with analysis of statistical data and sometimes mapping techniques. Ethnography provides a comprehensive picture of process in an agency or other setting by examining the dynamics between individuals and institutions to understand how systems work. Ethnography is particularly good at evaluating complex problems involving multiple stakeholders as well as understanding agency processes. I use examples from the Neighborhood Settlement House Evaluation Project and Kenosha Social Capital Study to describe the ethnographic method and its potential uses for nonprofit managers. I begin with an outline of methodological techniques, including problem definition, sample design, various data collection techniques, and analysis. Next I discuss ethnography's approach to the common research concerns of generalizability and replication. In concluding, I discuss ways that this method can be useful to nonprofit managers. Quality work is compared with less complete research techniques throughout each section.