Skip to Main Content

Library

Which study type is that? A guide to study types

Study and experiment types for Health Sciences and Medicine

Ethnographic study


An ethnographic study in health and medicine is a qualitative research approach used to explore and understand beliefs, behaviours and practices related to health and illness. For example, this method can show how the effectiveness of interventions can be influenced by patient cultural practices and can be useful to understand the organisation of health care (Savage, 2000).

 

ethnographic study

 

Further reading and resources

  • Angrosino, M. (2007). Doing ethnographic and observational research. Sage, London. Catalogue Link
     
  • Goodson, L., & Vassar, M. (2011). An overview of ethnography in healthcare and medical education research. Journal of educational evaluation for health professions, 8. Full Text
     
  • Rashid, M., Caine, V., & Goez, H. (2015). The encounters and challenges of ethnography as a methodology in health research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 14(5), 1609406915621421. Full Text
     
  • Savage, J. (2000). Ethnography and health care. Bmj, 321(7273), 1400-1402. Full Text
     
  • Savage, J. (2006). Ethnographic evidence: The value of applied ethnography in healthcare. Journal of research in nursing, 11(5), 383-393. Full Text

Example

Swinglehurst, D., & Greenhalgh, T. (2015). Caring for the patient, caring for the record: an ethnographic study of ‘back office’work in upholding quality of care in general practice. BMC health services research, 15, 1-12. Full Text

 

 


Library Instagram
Library Blogs
Library Contacts