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1981•Anthropology & Education QuarterlyRequires access

School Ethnography: A Multilevel Approach1

John U. Ogbu

Open publisher page 204 citations

Abstract

Ethnography is increasingly used by researchers in education. Among nonanthropologists, however, it is often misconceived and superficially applied; among anthropologists there is a strong bias toward a narrow application of the technique to the study of education. The present paper argues for the application of traditional anthropological ethnography in the study of formal education and for broadening the scope of such studies. It also suggests a framework—an ecological framework—that permits a multilevel application of ethnography in formal education. SCHOOL ETHNOGRAPHY; EDUCATION; MINORITY EDUCATION; EDUCATIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY; ETHNOECOLOGY.

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What this paper is about

Ethnography is increasingly used by researchers in education. Among nonanthropologists, however, it is often misconceived and superficially applied; among anthropologists there is a strong bias toward a narrow application of the technique to the study of education. The present paper argues for the application of traditional anthropological ethnography in the study of formal education and for broadening the scope of such studies. It also suggests a framework—an ecological framework—that permits a multilevel application of ethnography in formal education. SCHOOL ETHNOGRAPHY; EDUCATION; MINORITY EDUCATION; EDUCATIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY; ETHNOECOLOGY.

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OpenAlex reports 204 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available abstract

Ethnography is increasingly used by researchers in education. Among nonanthropologists, however, it is often misconceived and superficially applied; among anthropologists there is a strong bias toward a narrow application of the technique to the study of education. The present paper argues for the application of traditional anthropological ethnography in the study of formal education and for broadening the scope of such studies. It also suggests a framework—an ecological framework—that permits a multilevel application of ethnography in formal education. SCHOOL ETHNOGRAPHY; EDUCATION; MINORITY EDUCATION; EDUCATIONAL ANTHROPOLOGY; ETHNOECOLOGY.

Key concepts: Ethnography, Educational anthropology, Sociology, Scope (computer science), Formal education, Anthropology, Pedagogy, Social science

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