Viewing Competence through the Eye of Ethnography
By P. M. Copa
Glossary Terms
Ethnographic – ‘attempts to “tell the story” of a community or culture through the words and customs of its members.’ (Copa, 1989, pg. 142)
Attention to Context – ‘…the need to balance what they described as a “big picture” of their county against the particular qualities and needs of special circumstances and individuals with whom they interacted.’ (Copa, 1989, pg. 145)
Consideration of Goals – ‘…articulated the need for having goals and directing action toward them.’ (Copa, 1989, pg. 146)
Weighing of Alternative Means and Their Consequences – ‘…deliberately worked to assure the availability of a relatively large pool of alternative actions and techniques in spite of a general decline in resources.’ (Copa, 1989, pg. 146)
Using Balance in the Formation of Judgments – ‘…the process of studying and reflecting upon a professional dilemma, the practitioners reported that they frequently became aware of almost dichotomous dimensions involved in a situation.’ (Copa, 1989, pg. 146)
Dissemination – to cause (something, such as information) to go to many people
Disseminate. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disseminate
Quotes
“…the complex dilemmas faced by teachers are viewed as context-specific, unpredictable and difficult to define, thus not lending themselves to routine ways of responding and the use of ready-made solutions.” (Copa, 1989, pg. 141)
This is very true, every situation is unique and the individuals involved are unique. It would be wonderful if there was an easy rote answers that worked for everyone. How do we make sure that we do the right thing at the right time, something that works every time.
“There appeared to be a tendency to take conditions as they presented themselves and to move systematically toward action…” (Copa, 1989, pg. 148)
I found this one to be important because I wanted to remember that when doing research it is important to question why things are because they you will seek deeper understanding. Sometimes we just take things as they come when we should really be looking deeper.
“…understanding one’s community and its people made it possible for the professional to “talk to” them in a lively language, to use “understandable terms,” to translate substance into “relevant” material and to provide “reference points.” Knowing one’s audience, therefore, facilitate the process of conveying information because one know which words to use and what examples to develop – perhaps even what gestures would be must and least effective.” (Copa, 1989, pg. 148)
I pointed this one out because of the importance of knowing your audience, as it says. If you have a more effective way of communicating with them then as a researcher you will be both understood and you will understand a then the data will become more accurate because the interpretation is more accurate.
“…people were not unfilled vessels that would function better when they were filled; rather, they were reflective human beings who had crafted ways for thinking about and acting in a world that had been formed over time by groups of people negotiating within a political environment. Once one’s own and others’ ways of relating to this world were viewed as perspectives, those perspectives could be examined critically for the assumptions that underlay them, the larger orientations and interests they reflected and the conditions they perpetuated. Only then could people freely choose their own courses of action and realize the full implications of those choices” (Copa, 1989, pg. 157)
I quoted a very large section of this because I felt that what it was saying was very important when you are looking at interpretive inquiry and research. It helps one to understand that while you would not have chosen a particular path, another person with different experiences is likely to because their framework of life and what they are trying to achieve are different than yours. I think the value of learning about other people and their perspectives is the most valuable part of interpretive research, if for no other reason than your own ability to gain more knowledge or another view of the world.
References
Copa, P. M. (1989). Viewing Competence Through the Eye of Ethnography. In F. H. Hultgren & D. L. Coomer (Eds.), Alternate modes of inquiry in home economics research, pp. 140 -158. Yearbook 9, American Home Economics Association. Peoria, IL: Glencoe.
Ethnographic – ‘attempts to “tell the story” of a community or culture through the words and customs of its members.’ (Copa, 1989, pg. 142)
Attention to Context – ‘…the need to balance what they described as a “big picture” of their county against the particular qualities and needs of special circumstances and individuals with whom they interacted.’ (Copa, 1989, pg. 145)
Consideration of Goals – ‘…articulated the need for having goals and directing action toward them.’ (Copa, 1989, pg. 146)
Weighing of Alternative Means and Their Consequences – ‘…deliberately worked to assure the availability of a relatively large pool of alternative actions and techniques in spite of a general decline in resources.’ (Copa, 1989, pg. 146)
Using Balance in the Formation of Judgments – ‘…the process of studying and reflecting upon a professional dilemma, the practitioners reported that they frequently became aware of almost dichotomous dimensions involved in a situation.’ (Copa, 1989, pg. 146)
Dissemination – to cause (something, such as information) to go to many people
Disseminate. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disseminate
Quotes
“…the complex dilemmas faced by teachers are viewed as context-specific, unpredictable and difficult to define, thus not lending themselves to routine ways of responding and the use of ready-made solutions.” (Copa, 1989, pg. 141)
This is very true, every situation is unique and the individuals involved are unique. It would be wonderful if there was an easy rote answers that worked for everyone. How do we make sure that we do the right thing at the right time, something that works every time.
“There appeared to be a tendency to take conditions as they presented themselves and to move systematically toward action…” (Copa, 1989, pg. 148)
I found this one to be important because I wanted to remember that when doing research it is important to question why things are because they you will seek deeper understanding. Sometimes we just take things as they come when we should really be looking deeper.
“…understanding one’s community and its people made it possible for the professional to “talk to” them in a lively language, to use “understandable terms,” to translate substance into “relevant” material and to provide “reference points.” Knowing one’s audience, therefore, facilitate the process of conveying information because one know which words to use and what examples to develop – perhaps even what gestures would be must and least effective.” (Copa, 1989, pg. 148)
I pointed this one out because of the importance of knowing your audience, as it says. If you have a more effective way of communicating with them then as a researcher you will be both understood and you will understand a then the data will become more accurate because the interpretation is more accurate.
“…people were not unfilled vessels that would function better when they were filled; rather, they were reflective human beings who had crafted ways for thinking about and acting in a world that had been formed over time by groups of people negotiating within a political environment. Once one’s own and others’ ways of relating to this world were viewed as perspectives, those perspectives could be examined critically for the assumptions that underlay them, the larger orientations and interests they reflected and the conditions they perpetuated. Only then could people freely choose their own courses of action and realize the full implications of those choices” (Copa, 1989, pg. 157)
I quoted a very large section of this because I felt that what it was saying was very important when you are looking at interpretive inquiry and research. It helps one to understand that while you would not have chosen a particular path, another person with different experiences is likely to because their framework of life and what they are trying to achieve are different than yours. I think the value of learning about other people and their perspectives is the most valuable part of interpretive research, if for no other reason than your own ability to gain more knowledge or another view of the world.
References
Copa, P. M. (1989). Viewing Competence Through the Eye of Ethnography. In F. H. Hultgren & D. L. Coomer (Eds.), Alternate modes of inquiry in home economics research, pp. 140 -158. Yearbook 9, American Home Economics Association. Peoria, IL: Glencoe.