Ethnography MCQs January 8, 2026June 11, 2024 by u930973931_answers 73 min Score: 0 Attempted: 0/73 Subscribe 1. What is ethnography? (A) The study of ancient civilizations (B) The study of genetics (C) The study of economic systems (D) The study of human societies and cultures through immersive observation and participation 2. Who is considered the father of ethnography? (A) Franz Boas (B) Margaret Mead (C) Clifford Geertz (D) Bronisław Malinowski 3. Which of the following methods is primarily used in ethnography? (A) Randomized controlled trials (B) Participant observation (C) Surveys (D) Laboratory experiments 4. What does “participant observation” involve? (A) Observing from a distance (B) Conducting online surveys (C) Engaging in the daily life and activities of the people being studied (D) Analyzing statistical data 5. What is the main goal of ethnographic research? (A) To test scientific hypotheses (B) To understand the cultural practices and beliefs of a group from an insider’s perspective (C) To study economic trends (D) To develop new technologies 6. Which term refers to detailed written accounts of ethnographic research? (A) Case studies (B) Field notes (C) Surveys (D) Transcripts 7. Who authored Argonauts of the Western Pacific? (A) Bronisław Malinowski (B) Franz Boas (C) Claude Lévi-Strauss (D) Edward Burnett Tylor 8. What is “reflexivity” in ethnography? (A) A method of collecting data (B) The ability to reflect light (C) The study of reflex actions (D) The researcher’s awareness of their own impact on the research 9. Which is a key characteristic of ethnographic research? (A) Short-term data collection (B) Large sample sizes (C) Laboratory experiments (D) Long-term fieldwork 10. What is the “emic” perspective? (A) An outsider’s viewpoint (B) An insider’s viewpoint (C) A statistical analysis (D) A theoretical framework 11. What does “etic” perspective mean? (A) An outsider’s viewpoint (B) A historical analysis (C) A medical perspective (D) An insider’s viewpoint 12. Which best describes an ethnographer’s role? (A) Passive observer (B) Laboratory technician (C) Data analyst (D) Active participant and observer 13. What is “thick description”? (A) A detailed and layered account of a cultural context (B) A brief summary of findings (C) A list of research questions (D) A statistical report 14. Who coined “thick description”? (A) Clifford Geertz (B) Bronisław Malinowski (C) Franz Boas (D) Alfred Kroeber 15. Writing about culture from its own point of view refers to— (A) Ethnocentrism (B) Ethnographic present (C) Reflexivity (D) Cultural relativism 16. The “ethnographic present” means— (A) Describing cultures today (B) Predicting future cultures (C) Describing cultures in the past tense (D) Describing cultures as they were during research 17. What is “gatekeeping”? (A) Controlling who enters a research site (B) Conducting preliminary interviews (C) Restricting access to data (D) Managing field assistants 18. A common ethical concern in ethnography is— (A) Informed consent (B) Sample size calculation (C) Laboratory safety (D) Data encryption 19. What is “triangulation”? (A) Using three different data points (B) Combining multiple methods to validate findings (C) Using a triangular survey (D) Forming triangles during fieldwork 20. Who wrote Coming of Age in Samoa? (A) Margaret Mead (B) Franz Boas (C) Malinowski (D) Clifford Geertz 21. What is “autoethnography”? (A) An ethnographic study of one’s own culture (B) Automated data collection (C) The study of automobiles (D) Research on self-driving cars 22. Ethnographic fieldwork involves— (A) Online surveys (B) Lab experiments (C) Immersive, long-term interaction with a community (D) Document analysis 23. What is “life history”? (A) A detailed personal history within a cultural setting (B) The history of a civilization (C) A record of cultural myths (D) A biography of an animal 24. Grounded theory involves— (A) Pre-determined theories (B) No fieldwork (C) Theories developing from fieldwork data (D) Using existing theories 25. Ethnographic reflexivity means— (A) Examining one’s own influence on research (B) A form of cultural critique (C) Using statistical tools (D) Avoiding bias 26. Rapport refers to— (A) A type of data analysis (B) A statistical tool (C) A final report (D) Trust and respect between researcher and participants 27. Ethnomethodology studies— (A) Traditional crafts (B) Ancient methods (C) Cultural artifacts (D) How people make sense of everyday life 28. The Hawthorne effect refers to— (A) Lighting effects (B) A survey technique (C) Influence of researcher presence on behavior (D) Statistical error 29. Emic perspective emphasizes— (A) Quantitative analysis (B) Historical approach (C) Participants’ viewpoint (D) Researcher’s viewpoint 30. Participant observation is used for— (A) Laboratory testing (B) Surveys (C) Data coding (D) Observing and engaging in daily activities 31. Ethnographic monograph is— (A) A short report (B) A statistical document (C) A book-length study of a culture (D) A series of articles 32. The goal of ethnographic interviewing is— (A) Gather in-depth qualitative insights (B) Collect quantitative data (C) Conduct psychological testing (D) Summarize literature 33. Contextualization means— (A) Lab research (B) Placing findings within cultural context (C) Using statistics (D) Writing summaries 34. Multi-sited ethnography involves— (A) Research in multiple locations (B) Studying one community (C) Historical focus (D) Quantitative-only methods 35. Visual ethnography is— (A) Study of visual arts (B) The use of visual media to study culture (C) Use of charts (D) Pattern analysis 36. Thick description provides— (A) Superficial details (B) Theory critiques (C) Statistics (D) Deep cultural understanding 37. Ethnographic realism is— (A) Realistic art (B) A performance technique (C) A survey method (D) A writing style presenting detailed cultural accounts 38. Holistic perspective means— (A) Focusing on one aspect (B) Using historical data (C) Using statistics (D) Considering all aspects of a culture 39. Fieldwork means— (A) Direct engagement and observation (B) Working in an office (C) Online surveys (D) Reading literature 40. A gatekeeper is— (A) Someone controlling access to a community (B) A data analyst (C) A research tool (D) A field assistant 41. Cultural relativism entails— (A) Judging cultures by one’s own standards (B) Ignoring differences (C) Understanding practices within their cultural context (D) Using universal standards 42. Ethnographic interviewing aims to— (A) Gather detailed qualitative accounts (B) Collect quantitative data (C) Perform statistical analysis (D) Conduct assessments 43. Saturation occurs when— (A) No new information emerges (B) Excessive data is collected (C) Three sources align (D) Data becomes numerical 44. A field diary is— (A) A personal journal of observations (B) Survey results (C) Statistical logs (D) A book of articles 45. Descriptive validity refers to— (A) Theoretical consistency (B) Statistical reliability (C) Generalization ability (D) Accuracy of descriptions 46. Theoretical sampling involves— (A) Choosing cases based on emerging theory (B) Random sampling (C) Historical sampling (D) Statistical methods 47. Ethical validity means— (A) Use of valid statistics (B) Theoretical accuracy (C) Adherence to ethical standards (D) Precise measurement 48. Preliminary research involves— (A) Final analysis (B) Planning through initial information gathering (C) Writing results (D) Performing experiments 49. Participant observation focuses on— (A) Accurately engaging with community routines (B) Reviewing history (C) Conducting online surveys (D) Remote observation 50. Contextual analysis means— (A) Understanding practices within broader context (B) Ignoring context (C) Statistical interpretation (D) Lab testing 51. Cross-cultural comparison is— (A) Longitudinal comparison (B) Studying one culture (C) Quantitative comparison (D) Comparing cultures for similarities/differences 52. Data triangulation is— (A) Statistical triangulation (B) Comparing three cultures (C) Doing three studies (D) Using three methods or sources for verification 53. Reflexivity requires— (A) Reflecting on personal influence (B) Ignoring biases (C) Using standardized methods (D) Writing theory 54. A researcher’s notebook is— (A) A record of thoughts and observations (B) A literature summary (C) A set of questions (D) A data report 55. Ethnographic insight is— (A) A statistical summary (B) Deep understanding from immersion (C) A brief overview (D) A critique 56. Field entry is— (A) Gaining access to a site (B) Data analysis (C) Report writing (D) Literature review 57. Cultural script refers to— (A) Research rules (B) Norms and practices within culture (C) A survey tool (D) Theory outline 58. Sociocultural anthropology is— (A) Comparative study of societies and cultures (B) Study of evolution (C) Study of ancient civilizations (D) Study of linguistic structures 59. Epistemological reflexivity involves— (A) Applying epistemology (B) Studying knowledge systems (C) Examining how one’s knowledge influences research (D) Analyzing production of knowledge 60. Fieldnotes are— (A) Literature summaries (B) Detailed records of observations (C) Statistical data (D) Theoretical models 61. Discourse analysis is— (A) Study of language in social context (B) Statistical analysis (C) Historical study (D) Questionnaire use 62. Cultural critique is— (A) External judgment (B) Study of artifacts (C) Quantitative analysis (D) Evaluation of cultural norms 63. Ethical considerations involve— (A) Writing reports (B) Researcher safety (C) Statistical techniques (D) Consent, confidentiality, respect 64. A longitudinal study is— (A) Study over an extended period (B) Short-term study (C) Historical data study (D) Cross-sectional analysis 65. A participant observer is— (A) A passive observer (B) A data analyst (C) A researcher who participates and observes (D) A critic 66. Cultural immersion entails— (A) Distant observation (B) Active engagement in cultural life (C) Statistical analysis (D) Document review 67. Data saturation refers to— (A) Multiple sources (B) Excessive data (C) No new information emerging (D) Over-analysis 68. An ethnographic report is— (A) Statistical report (B) Summary of results (C) A detailed account of research and findings (D) Theoretical critique 69. Cultural dynamics is— (A) Historical events (B) Economic analysis (C) Study of how culture changes (D) Environmental study 70. Contextual analysis involves— (A) Ignoring context (B) Quantitative analysis (C) Understanding practices in broader context (D) Literature review 71. Ethnographic narrative is— (A) Detailed descriptive account (B) Fiction (C) Statistical summary (D) Theory 72. Cultural interpretation means— (A) Economic analysis (B) Understanding practices from insider perspective (C) Psychological testing (D) Statistical methods 73. An interview guide is— (A) A document outlining interview questions and procedures (B) A research summary (C) A data analysis method (D) A theoretical tool