Volume 8, Issue 1, January – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

The Ethnographic Research in Anthropology its

Challenges and Limitations
Madan Thapa
Faculty of Social Sciences and Education: MPhil Anthropology Nepal Open University, Lalitpur

Academic Writings (SSAW 712)

Ms. Yashoda Chaulagain and Ms. Sujata Bhatta

Abstract:- This paper provides a clear understanding of way people live, about their profession, how they use things
the challenges faced by Social Science ethnographers to what they need in their everyday or professional lives.
while conducting ethnographic research under Social The most commonly used techniques for the methods of
and Cultural Anthropology. An ethnographic study is data collection under ethnographic research are
considered one of the most integral methodological tools observations, video diaries, photographs, contextual
in Anthropology, but due to diverse understanding of interviews, and analysis of artifacts.
this process, at times the essence is misled. The paper
describes the trends of the challenges and limitations, Singleton and straits (2005) have identified five major
which varies according to the research topic, contexts steps of ethnographic research, which are, problem
methods, and fieldwork site. This paper also tries to formulation, selecting a research setting, gaining access,
underline the different confrontations faced by the presenting oneself, and gathering and recording information.
various other disciplines, which are researched linking The method was first applied in educational research in the
ethnography as their means of study. This paper tries to 1950s, where ethnographers enter classrooms, schools, and
interpret and analyze the information through an family groups or community settings to identify inside
explorative and descriptive approach. In Anthropology, knowledge by asking different questions to different
Ethnography research can be considered an effective stakeholders of education. Thus, the characteristics of
and efficient methods as long as the ethics of the ethnographic research are a mixture of historical,
ethnography is well understood and well implemented. observational, and interview methods. In this method, the
The outcome of the paper will try to interpret and researcher usually observes target users in their natural, real-
analyze the possible challenges while in the field or while world setting, and not in an artificial environment of a lab or
interpreting the data by the ethnographers while focus group. It allows for collecting data in a realistic or
carrying out the ethnographic research. naturalistic setting in which people act naturally, focusing
on both verbal and non-verbal behaviors. It is longitudinal in
Keywords:- Ethnographic, Research, Qualitative, nature (changes with time may be observed). It provides
Challenge, and Anthropology. detailed and rich data and information for further
investigation and writing.
I. INTRODUCTION
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
The literal meaning of ethnography is “a portraying of
people.” (Hammersley and Atkinson, 2007). It aims to In the literature review online (mostly) scholarly
describe what is happening in a particular setting together sources on the challenges and limitations of ethnographic
with the participant’s perspectives on these events. In study, its methodological process, and qualitative research
general understanding, it is to interpret particular cultural have been included. It provides an overview of the current
groups or ethnic groups setting from the perspective of both knowledge in ethnographic research as a subject. Some of
researcher and locals focusing holistic approach is described the theoretical methods that are relevant also exist. For
as ethnographic research. It focuses on all of the events of citation and reference APA (America Psychological
how a particular social group operates and accomplishes this Association) 7th edition has been followed.
by means of direct observation and interviews with key
participants. It is also referred to as interpretive research as The researcher Reeves et al., (2013), has revealed
it attempts to explain people’s behavior in terms of the Ethnography to be a type of qualitative research that gathers
beliefs, which people hold, about their behavior. information through observations, interviews, and
Ethnography is a written description of a particular culture documentary data to produce details and comprehensive
(the customs, beliefs, and behavior) based on information accounts of different social phenomena. And they further
collected through fieldwork. (Harris & Johnson 2000). add that the use of ethnographic research in medical
Ethnographic methods include intensive fieldwork education has produced a number of insightful accounts of
particularly participant observation by a single or group of its roles, functions, and difficulties in the preparation of
ethnographers, who live with them and live like them. This medical students for clinical practice. The journal also
method provides an accurate and deep understanding of the explores the limitations of work undertaken in a medical

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Volume 8, Issue 1, January – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
education context, which requires methodological as a tool for data gathering. Kawulich (2005) states,
refinement to enhance the quality of future ethnographic “Participant observation is conducted by a biased human
work in the field. who serves as the instrument for data collection; the
researcher must understand how his/her gender, sexuality,
Ethnography studies are one of the earliest qualitative ethnicity, class, and theoretical approach may affect
approaches in Anthropology that have always based its observation, analysis, and interpretation.”
study based its study diving into its native population,
immersing into the depth of conversation characterized by Ethical consideration is a significant element that
the participant observation. This allows the Ethnographers needs to be considered by Ethnographers. These ethics
to dig out the real issues that they intend to find, “Although include taking consent from respondents and assuring their
it has been argued that ethnography is purely a data privacy and information will be maintained and fully
collection method, epistemologically it is about immersion addressed (Rashid, Caine, and Goez, 2015). However, due
in a culture and the artistry of seeing, learning and to negligence and taking things for granted this does not
interpreting reality by engaging with participants, either happen. Either the researcher underestimates taking consent
overtly or covertly in their natural environment.” (Smith, or published personal information more than permitted. At
2017). This research often analyses the information at the times the researchers are so submerged in the community
micro-level and is the continuous process of involving the through participation and observation that they end with an
participants in their natural environment. ethical dilemma. Gajjar (2013), explains that everyone
recognizes certain common ethical standards, but the
In Ethnographic research design, from the perspective problem is with individuals’ interpretation, application, and
of experimenting with the data, a number of important balance of these norms in different ways in light of their
problems have been identified. There are seven major own values and life experience. There are a range of
identified issues and their inter-relationships with each other difficulties and challenges claiming ethnographic research.
are connected with their methodological aspect. The core- In this connection, Hammersley (2006), suggests that:
identified issues are the Complexity of test development;
Variability of methods; resource intensiveness; subjectivity (...) Issues include: how ethnographers define the
and culture; inter-test comparability; lack of clear common spatial and temporal boundaries of what they study; how
standards for metrics; and finally context and industrial they determine the context that is appropriate for
acceptance (Philip, Ben, Steve, 2009). Unless the above understanding it; in what senses ethnography can be or is
issues are not resolved through a properly structured virtual rather than actual; the role of interviews as a data
methodological approach, then maintaining high levels of source; the relationship between ethnography and discourse
performance is not obtained in ethnographic research design. analysis; the tempting parallel with imaginative writing;
and, finally, whether ethnography should have, or can avoid
Consequently, within ethnographic studies, there seem having, political or practical commitments of some kind,
to be dilemmas in the findings of movement or mobility beyond its aim of producing value- relevant knowledge.
studies. “By interlinking migration, transport and tourism
studies, the new mobilities scholarship addresses emerging Rudkin (2002), adds that the “Key limitations in
challenges and discourse concerning environmental ethnographic research identified are the limiting factors of
development, justice and security issues at local and global language, the morphing effects of context, imperfections of
levels.” (D’Andrea, Ciolfi & Gray, 2011). In the the researcher, and ethical considerations surrounding the
contemporary conditions of globalization of movement, verification and ownership of data.”
mobilities seem to carry a heavier empirical and
epistemological weight in mutually limiting social, material According to Wilson (1997), there is a growing in the
and cultural domains which previously seen as autonomous. use of Anthropological techniques in natural and social
While micro-sociological and phenomenological approaches science research. To conduct such qualitative or
are predominant in the scholarship, large-scale studies on ethnographic research we need ample trainings and
mobility not to tend to systematically analyze research experience. Because ethnographic methodology differs
frameworks used in the process of knowledge production. significantly from the research approaches more commonly
Therefore, the multi-scalar and critical methodologies are used in other facilities, it is important to clarify its rationale
necessary for further expanding the analytical and and data collection process. It is essential to understand the
interventional possibilities of a mobilities research agenda. ways in which ethnographic research differs from other
approaches because they represent fundamentally different
One of the effective methods for collecting data in claims about the nature of human behavior and the best
Ethnographic research is Participant Observation. It has ways of coming to understand it. Ethnography discerns both
been used in a variety of disciplines for collecting data about the depth and complexity of social structures and relations,
people, processes, and cultures in qualitative research. (Jeffrey & Troman, 2013).
Marshall and Rossman (1989) define observation as "the
systematic description of events, behaviors, and artifacts in Accordingly, Berg (2008), discloses how international
the social setting chosen for study" (p.79). But there are borders provide fertile but challenging ground for
several other anthropological researchers who claimed that anthropological research. Extending ethnographic inquiries
there are numerous limitations involved in using observation to a multiplicity of sites due to mobility and displacement

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Volume 8, Issue 1, January – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
worldwide, the researcher faced difficulties. And when respondent. The collected data will be closely examined
doing ethnography of transactional spaces and subjectivities through qualitative approach.
we are faced with a number of practical, methodological,
and analytical challenges not encountered in single-sited  Research Document Analysis
ethnography. A real challenge with multi-sited fieldwork is Document analysis is an important method in social
that the researcher has less time at each individual site and research. In it previously published documents, literature,
with each localized population, thus having fewer and journals on the relevant and related topic will be closely
opportunities to “get to know” people and their social examined and will be analyzed for the results. It is a type of
worlds and to establish more profound social relationships, qualitative research in which documents are interpreted by
in ways that allow us access to more existential fields of the researcher to provide a meaningful understanding of
experience. his/her research topic. In its already published journals;
research articles; thesis; dissertations; books and newspapers
Hence, the ability to see how people are constructing will be thoroughly analyzed and taken into consideration.
themselves, their families, their neighborhoods, localities, For analyzing information from these resources systematic
communities, and the connections among them is more planning procedures have to be followed. First of all, we
limited. This limitation itself must be approached have to create a list of texts to analyze and explore.
analytically and addressed directly through varied and Secondly, these obtained documents have to ensure no
versatile research practices implemented for their cultural and linguistic barriers. The researcher further has to
appropriateness to particular sites, questions, and situations, develop strategies to ensure credibility and ethical
such as team-based research, fieldwork in transit (moving consideration like confidential information has to be taken
with migrating individuals and groups), or other seriously.
interdisciplinary work.
 Study Method
III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY A qualitative research method will be adopted to carry
out this research.
This chapter deals with the research methodology
applied while conducting research. Due to COVID-19, it is IV. RESULTS AND FINDINGS
almost impossible to visit sites and acquire desirable
primary data. Some of the data collection tools and This chapter deals with the evaluation of results and
techniques like focused group discussion – FGD and outcomes obtained from the online questionnaire and the
participant observation are key tools for gathering analysis of the document. Data obtained from the research
information in qualitative research that cannot be executed. method has been deeply interpreted and analyzed through
Because this needs a physical presence in the study site and the qualitative data analysis process.
face-to-face interaction with the respondents. Therefore, an
online questionnaire schedule with the expertise of the  Research Code of Conduct
researcher and research document analysis will be applied as Ethnographic research deals with ethnic people,
a means of collecting data for interpretation. As a source of groups, and communities. Since it is about the social norms
qualitative data a few experts, ethnographers; researchers; and values that they exercise while socializing in their own
anthropologists and learners will be selected, which is the community. Therefore, a set of moral principles and values
limitation of this study. has to adhere to in order to maintain the integrity of the
research. A researcher has to be morally responsible and
 Online Questionnaire Schedule ethically sound in following up the research code of
The research process is incomplete without the conduct. And the researcher should conduct research
collection of data. There are several methods that are without harming any component of the community.
involved in the collection of primary data. And on the
effective means of collecting data is an online questionnaire But in most academic and general research such
schedule. Gathering data online is gaining popularity as it ethical considerations are not strictly followed or taken
saves time and money. And most importantly the desired seriously. A researcher either underestimates the community
information can be generated without visiting the site. In to seek consent or tries organizing the confidentiality of the
Anthropology studies especially in ethnographic research it respondent or does not realize the importance of maintaining
is important to visit the study area, but in situations like all of these recorded documents in writing. While in a
Corona Pandemic, online methods can prove effective tools community, a researcher should speak well; behave well,
and the desired outcomes can be accomplished. and should not use any toxic substance that puts people in
shame. And moreover, privacy related to the community’s
There will be few sets of questions asked to the behavior and practice was found not taken into
experts; Anthropologists; and researchers on the challenges consideration.
and limitations that they experienced while undertaking
ethnographic research. This conduction of research will be Protecting the human subject is an integral aspect of
online through the use of the Internet. And the relevant any research. Protection of human subjects includes a
information shall be obtained. This is an effective and historical, psychological, and health-related aspect of the
efficient way to accumulate primary data from the respondent. Since this is a sensitive subject and normally

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Volume 8, Issue 1, January – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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research is conducted only after preparing and approving the participants. This relationship can be particularly intense
research code of conduct from the concern institution. But when researching hidden or marginalized communities in
this hardly happens in most academic research. How to violent contexts. Yet, the emotional consequences of
protect the privacy and emotions of the respondent is not research on the researcher are rarely discussed and little
literally considered. Those who try to adopt also do not literature exists. When emotions in research are revealed,
completely comply with the complete procedures of ethical researchers can be confronted with stigma surrounding
consideration, as it should be. As a consequence, people’s issues of subjectivity, "going native" and implications of
personal information is leaked and publicly disclosed failed research”.
without taking proper consent from them. This way
respondents lose faith in the researcher and it impacts the Actually, disaster research allows people in the field to
upcoming researcher who has planned to organize research advance in the existing preparedness, response, and recovery
in the same area with the same people. practices. It is important to study earlier about the disaster-
prone region to wholly prepare and safeguard the lives.
 As a Social Science Researcher, there are Many Ethical
Issues that Needs to be Considered: During natural calamities, it is people and their
ecosystem on which they are dependent and largely
 Informed consent impacted by terrible consequences. In it, many people suffer
 Confidentiality from psychological issues caused by the loss of property,
 Anonymity possessions, and most importantly the loss of their loved
 Aware to harm (Physical and socio-cultural) ones.
 Responsible to institutional rules and regulations
 Aare to plagiarism There are additional risks for survivors to participate in
 Appropriate acknowledging a research study. Researchers must be aware that some
populations are more likely to experience greater risk as
 Concern to community interpretation (Acharya, 2018)
participants especially those who are socially and medically
vulnerable. Thus, researchers should carefully design in
 Ethnographic Research in Special Scenarios (in Violent
order to minimize the possible risks to the participants.
Environments; Natural Disasters and Transnational
There are numerous challenges attached when involved in
Research)
ethnographic research in disaster regions, that includes
The most challenging task in research is to conduct
physical harm, inconvenience, legal problems, economic
research in a violent environment, natural disaster setting,
hardship, psychological discomfort, loss of dignity, and
and between the populations of different countries. Violence
unwanted media involvement.
is a social phenomenon and is common in every society.
Very few scholars prefer to conduct research in such a
Transnational research is a comparative and
situation. Because of the fact that it is highly risky and
comprehensive research approach between the people of two
unsafe to handle comprehensive research in such a scenario.
or more countries. Such research concludes and provides a
There are very limited researches that are found conducting
wider range of knowledge of various regions between or
regarding such furious settings. Such violence in society can
among the countries. Now there is a growing trend of
be man-made or natural, political, institutional, religious
conducting transnational research in the context of a similar
outbreak, civil war, or conflict. Very wise and careful
socio-cultural setting. At times social life crosses and
consideration has to undertake while designing this type of
transcends the boundaries in different ways. Issues like
research. It has to be well articulated on the policies and best
relative human rights, gender studies, and social values are
practices in order to conduct safe and ethical conduct and
collaboratively studied across borders. But this multi-
collection of violent data. Therefore, it is very challenging to
national study has legal setbacks; problems in the
conduct research in a violent environment. In some of the
generalization of results/findings and is time-consuming,
violent situations if it is handled improperly the safety and
which is challenging to conduct in academic research.
even the lives of the respondent and interviewer may be at
risk. Even the targeted respondent experience traumatic
 Describing Cultural Complexities
stress and psychological problems related to violence and
Culture includes a vastness of human behaviors,
disaster. For a while, they will not be fit to participate in the
patterns, and interactions. It encompasses religion, food,
research process. Warden, Tara (2013), the authors delineate
what we wear, and, marriage, music, Symbols, and people’s
the risks of emotional trauma in ethnographic research
beliefs. Culture is an acquisition process and is transmitted
working with vulnerable groups in a dangerous
through the socialization process. In conclusion, a culture is
environment. The writers present their reflexive analysis
a set of rules to drive the community as a whole.
during ethnographic research experience and aim to raise
awareness about the acute emotional consequences of
Culture is dynamic and keeps changing. Thus, its
conducting research with marginalized populations in
transformation face cannot be understood superficially only
violent contexts. They further explain,
through peripheral scratch. A few weeks or months spent
with a certain ethnic group does not completely build our
“Ethnographers, as tools of data collection, are
holistic understanding of that particular community. In
uniquely positioned in a paradoxical relationship between
academic research, it is mostly seen that a researcher hardly
intense immersion and objective distance from research and

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Volume 8, Issue 1, January – 2023 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
spent a month time with the people, and during this limited researcher entered the field, for example, a village, as a
time frame is not sufficient for any researcher to gain deeper stranger (Baillie, 1995).
insight and knowledge about their cultural practice. There
has to be intimacy and healthy rapport relation and in order In contrast, in the present study, the research setting
to have this relationship, we need to invest more quality will not be totally unfamiliar to the ethnographer. This can
time not only in collecting data but also in developing lead to potential bias; the avoidance of which largely relies
relationships. Then only one can win the confidence of the on self-awareness on the researcher’s behalf. In addition, the
people, only after which factual data are obtained from the researcher might also feel negative toward the informants,
respondent. The dynamism of a culture has to be understood but it must try to remain neutral. So, the use of the personal
and interpret accordingly. diary, recording feelings and emotions to check against
possible bias, is highly recommended.
Though is every society culture is observed but the
components of the cultural practice in every society are Another challenge in qualitative research is that
different. Therefore, a researcher has to be fully aware and sometimes it generates imposing and unwieldy datasets that
has to be educated about this variance of cultural are hard to deal with. It will be challenging while code and
observation from place to place is different. The pre- analyze bulky data after interviews and observations from
occupied mindset and stereotype assumption obstruct the study site. Trustworthiness is also challenging in a
cultural understanding as a consequence real findings and qualitative study because it contains less straightforward
outcomes will not be obtained. than in a quantitative study because of the nature of the data.
Also, empirical measurement is not possible because it has
Researchers are challenged with many social issues human input and understanding. John D. Brewer (1994)
while carrying out their research with people in complex-
cultural arenas. There are many cultural barriers faced by “Ethnography has always been subject to criticism
ethnographers, some of which are mentioned below: 1) the from quantitative sociologists, who accord it a minimal role,
possibility of cultural biasness; 2) Understanding their local but it has recently come under attack from sociologists
language; 3) the ability of the researcher to endure the sympathetic to the method, whom themselves have
situations in which the subject is being studied; 4) considerable experience in its use. I call this the
presumptions about inferior and superior culture; 5) a wide ethnographic critique of ethnography. This critique
range of theoretical understanding; 6) quality to adopt local questions the reliability of ethnographic descriptions, and
culture and 7) proper rapport building with the locals. shows ethnographic texts to be artifacts, skillfully
manufactured in order to construct their persuasive force.”
 Problems with Sampling and Interpretation of
Qualitative Data in Ethnographic Research: The raw data obtained from the fieldwork needs
Usually, ethnographic research doesn’t generate analysis and interpretation. Thus, whatever whether that is a
quantifying data. The obtained data are qualitative and non- qualitative or quantitative data both has to undergo through
numeric. There are both drawbacks and advantages of data cleaning process which is professional termed is called
qualitative data. The advantages of qualitative data are, it data analysis. In research searching, evaluating, recognizing,
provides a deep and detailed understanding of the subject. coding, mapping, exploring and describing to provide
But at the same time, it also carries limitations. One of underlying meanings to transform raw data. To analyze
which is with the ‘sample size.’ For example, if there are quantitative data is easier and processed through some
200 households in a particular community, and if a statistical software. Whereas, qualitative data requires
researcher takes a sample of only 10 households and 190 analytical examination and investigation of the information.
households. This raises the question of whether or not this Researcher’s personal view and understanding on a
sampling will provide a true reflection of the view of the particular subject or object determine the actual findings of
remaining 95% of the population. Secondly, ‘sample bias’ the research. The interpretation phase may introduce bias
alone in the qualitative method does not provide the true from the researcher, as the researcher analyzes the data
picture. The findings at times may be influenced either based on past experience (fieldwork), or unknowingly held
knowingly or unknowingly, to a response that faces an assumptions. Qualitative data answers the ‘why’ and ‘how’
anticipated outcome. Thirdly, and most importantly self- answers and it is an integral part of ethnographic study.
selection bias may arise where the researcher may ask the However, the problem is, it collects subjective data; it takes
respondent to volunteer their views or in the desire of the a lot of time to collect data, and it is difficult to rightly
researcher. In the Article, “The challenges of participant represent the information. The researcher has a greater role
observations of cultural encounters. Within an ethnographic in its interpretation. Sometimes researcher influence can
study” the writers Lopez-Dicastilloa, Belintxona (2014), have a negative effect on the collected data and unrecorded
acknowledged the challenges of biasness and reflexivity. data can be disappeared.
They further state:
 Expectations and Importance of Respondents
Ethnography has also challenges. Ethnographers need Academic research doesn’t resolve the existing
to be naïve when using ethnography, as the major tool is the problems, but rather highlights the problems on the surface
researcher herself or himself. This in anthropology did not of the community. In the context of Nepal, it is mostly found
use to be a challenge as in traditional ethnography; the that the respondent expects a researcher will resolve the

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ISSN No:-2456-2165
community issues that they are struggling on day-to-day life. provide adequate scholarship quota to these strugglers. If
This is a great problem that it is either a researcher who fails any provided are limited and are not accessible to every
these people to understand or it is a natural tendency that scholar. As a result, many researchers dropped out their
these locals expect and at times demand from the researcher. remaining course and does not proceed further because of no
And when the community realizes that nothing will be money and time. The intensity of the problems is more
addressed there is a high possibility for participants to found among ethnographic scholars, because of their
respond inaccurately and falsely to the questions that they intensive involvement in the field with the people.
are asked by the researcher. Which ultimately raises the
validity and reliability of the research. From an ecological perspective, the geography of
Nepal provides rich resources to carry out the research.
Respondents are treated as important actors in any However, the geographical diversity of the land also equally
research, and it is the same with ethnographic research. provides a challenge for the researcher. Geographically, our
Respondents are the people of the targeted community who country is classified into three main regions: mountainous,
have been invited to participate in the particular study and hilly, and plain region. All these three constituents of
have actually taken part in the study. During the question- extreme land structure and climatic conditions, at times,
answer session with the respondent, they first interpret the create unexpected challenges for a researcher. Since
question and then recall the relevant facts. Formulate an ethnographic research focuses its study on an indigenous,
answer and finally gives a verbal response. Respondents native and ethnic group. These populations are mostly found
should be qualified (meeting an objective of the research in difficult land structures, high mountainous regions, and
designs) and willing to participate in the research. Therefore, close to forests and rivers (and to reach most of these places
the role of the respondent is important in qualitative lacks transportation facilities). So, it is tiring and
research. Furthermore, Jones and Smith (2017) explain the challenging to approach to such places and climates.
challenges faced by the researchers while collecting first-
hand data in the field. They state, Ethnographic research includes tedious fieldwork. To
gain cultural insight and social process every researcher has
“Engaging with participants in the real world poses to immerse and spent quality time to understand the deeper
several challenges; first the researcher must decide whether meaning of cultural phenomena. Fieldwork is intellectually
to adopt an overt or covert approach to data collection and and technically challenging when the fieldwork is in a
observation. In an overt approach, the participants know difficult environment – conflict, post-conflict and post-
they are being observed, whereas in a covert approach the disaster area. In many a situation, it is seen that a researcher
participants are unaware they are being observed.” is misled or engulfed in emotion after entering the research
site. Other challenges associated with the fieldwork are
Many times, the different researcher enters the same logistics and transportation; access and trust; barriers such
community and frequent research is conducted asking the as language and gender. Respondents hide data or provide
same questions. This creates frustration and in a long run, misinformation and influence the participants in your study.
they either show reluctance to participate in any research or In the field, researchers, also struggle with security and
provide the wrong information to the researcher. The coping with stress. At times researcher ends up making
success of the ethnographic research is solely based on the friends with the participants. S/he feels sympathy and
willingness; and active participation of the respondents. empathy with the respondents. In Ethnographic research
And, an important component in research is always how fieldwork is important. But many times, the researchers do
respondents comprehend questions and how the interviewer not reveal and acknowledge much about their fieldwork. It
handles the situation. is found that Ethnographic studies do not incorporate a wide
range of conventional ethnographic features and often result
 Other Concerns (Time Constraint, Economic Hardship, in less time spent in the field. They often engaged in narrow
Geographical Obstruction, Extreme Climatic topics conducted in familiar surroundings and issues
Condition, Tedious Fieldwork, Lacks of a Longitudinal (Rashid, Caine, & Goez, 2015).
Study, and External Factors Affecting the Community)
Generally, ethnographic research is supposed to be the An attribute of culture is that it is acquired,
most in-depth research method. Where the researcher invests transmitted, and dynamic, it can be learned and shared. In
longer time at a research site. And observe what people are other words, the nature of the culture is changing, it is not
doing, saying, and interacting with each other. In a real stable. One of the challenges that is seen in ethnographic
sense, in it, ethnographers obtain a deep understanding of research under Anthropology is, it studies about particular
the population and cultural system in the broader context. context only at a time. It lacks longitudinal research that
involves repeated observation and participation over a long
In order to execute real ethnographic research it cost period of time, sometimes even decades. To formulate deep
you both money and time. Which at times is unaffordable to understanding of human experiences over a long period of
university students. Who are struggling and are burdened time, it is essential in anthropological research to
with financial problems. Many governments and even longitudinal qualitative studies is always useful in
universities in some other countries have adopted a policy to ethnographic research as it tries to answer the question about
provide financial support to conduct research and the change that occurred between two-time duration, why,
dissertation. But in our country, the government has failed to how and when the change has occurred and contextual

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factor related to change. We know longitudinal research has VI. CONCLUSION
its own limitations, however, for a holistic understanding of
human behavior, it is significant to conduct longitudinal From the above studies, what can be drawn, as the
research even in ethnographic studies. conclusion is that, “Ethnographic research” in Anthropology
is filled up with various challenges if not properly designed,
Ethnographic research focuses and studies on the inner managed, and conducted. Ethnographic research in itself is
factors, and limits the external factors affecting the an effective method for collecting qualitative data under
community. External factors like economic institutions, Anthropology. But its effectiveness and efficiency can be
political environment, and ecological issues are missed out measured if its standard procedures and guidelines are
in ethnographic research. This is challenging for systematically followed, keeping in mind the essence of the
ethnographers to interlinked these external components and research. These days there is a growing trend among the
study as a whole. And at the same time, one can’t ignore the researchers of social science and humanities to carry out
external agencies impacting the inner cultural practice ethnographic research through a qualitative approach. It is
within a community. So, both these components (inside and encouraging to an anthropologist that there is increased
outside) that are responsible for the change in society have knowledge and resource in this field.
to study balancing both factors. This is challenging for all
ethnographers in the future how these factors can be A researcher should be tactful, creative, and
addressed while studying the ethnographic studies of a professional enough to convert the challenges and
particular community. limitations that exist in ethnographic studies into
opportunities. And at the same time, an ethnographer should
V. DISCUSSION be well-versed in the ethnographic methodology. Since it is
a complex area of study, proper research can generate and
From the critical lens, we can always discuss outline desired results, but if handled improperly, the
numerous subjects under ethnographic research. First of all, targeted object of the research will be messed. It is all up to
any anthropologist scholar willing to undertake this sort of a researcher as to how he has understood and perceives the
detailed research has to have an inclusive understanding of whole ethnographic process.
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