Final answer:
Ethnography is the extended observation of a social setting, focusing on how people view themselves in relation to a community. Ethnographers spend time studying every aspect of a chosen place, immersing themselves in the culture and daily life. They may also engage in participant observation, taking on roles to gather firsthand experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ethnography is the extended observation of the social perspective and cultural values of an entire social setting. It involves objective observation of an entire community and focuses on how subjects view their own social standing and understand themselves in relation to a community. Ethnographers spend a determined amount of time studying every aspect of a chosen place, taking in as much as possible. For example, an ethnographic study could observe a small U.S. fishing town, an Inuit community, a village in Thailand, a Buddhist monastery, a private boarding school, or an amusement park. Ethnographers immerse themselves in these places, observing and experiencing the everyday life and culture of the community. Another type of ethnography is participant observation, where researchers temporarily put themselves into roles to experience a specific aspect of social life. They may work as a waitress in a diner, live as a homeless person, or ride along with police officers. This allows them to gather firsthand observations and insights.