The Ethnographic Interview by James P. Spradley

by James P. Spradley

Anthropology. The Developmental Research Sequence

Genres: Anthropology, Design, Ethnography, Nonfiction, Research, Research Methods, Social Science

Mass Market Paperback

First published April 3, 1979

Reviews

[W.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most valuable (and most expensive) book I own. Spradley describes the means by which someone learns a new language and culture specifically for the purpose of writing about it to people seeking to know the culture.

This book is valuable for two reasons: first, it describes the fracturization of culture in the first world, and formalizes a way to translate between disparate cultures within the same language. This skill has proven invauable in translating "deb speak" at work and avoiding misunderstandings between two parties that don't share the same cultural expression.

The second (and primary) reason to own the book is as primer for the fiction author: the book describes the way you select and interview an informant (that's anthropology-speak for someone in the culture willing to talk to you about the culture) to describe the world in which the informant lives. The magic here involves turning inward: invent an informant to a new culture that exists only in your psyche, or part of a culture yet undescribed as part of a historical narrative. Conduct an internal interview and take notes; bam! You're the next Tolkien. (It seems to me from biographies that this is, in fact, what Tolkein did to develop his extraordinary world). This book more valuable to this end than other works of anthropology for two reasons: firstly, it is COMPETENT. This book is rapid and wholly instructional; I found the first readthrough solidified the concepts in my mind for life. Secondly, it describes the difficulties in learning a new cultural language when it is spoken in the same mother tongue, in our case English. Hobo english is obviously different from Harvard english, but this book describes the ways in which is is likely different and how to avoid letting the similarites confuse what a word really means to a hobo if one is from Harvard, or vice versa.

If you want to write good, immersive, utterly original fiction, get this book. Period. It is the secret weapon.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Methodical, sequential, organized, structurally precise way of thinking about ethnography. Assumes linguistic precision and precise categories in the minds of cultural informants. Interesting read, but gets boring and repetitive a bit. A helpful reference, though, for organized way of doing ethnographic interviewing.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic that introduced Spradley's brilliant method. It's a shame he passed so young; he could have changed the method as we know it.

[Dullah Mirza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I get from here how the gatra and ethnographic elements work in a text. Oh my tengkyu.

[Robert Bogue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m about as far away from an ethnographer as you can get. I live in the heart of the United States and in the same home for over 20 years. And yet, I use ethnographic interviewing in one form or another every single week. How can it be that I’m not embedding myself into new and strange cultures, and yet I value skills that resemble those needed by an ethnographer so deeply? The answer lies in the techniques and thinking that The Ethnographic Interview teaches and in my work world.

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[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Proof positive that some of the classic texts remain vital reading today. Spradley's text is a must read for anyone interested in ethnographic interviewing. It's full of highly engaging, practical illustrations and written in a very accessible style without losing the complexity of subject matter. Read it!

[Brad Boyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this book probably three times... I have strictly followed Spradley's research sequence. I have followed it religiously for the last year of my life. It is with some pleasure that I mark this book as read. The end is in sight!

[Peter Morville · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Spradley's practical advice for how to conduct ethnographic research is wonderfully precise. Also, the section on taxonomic analysis is required reading for information architects!

[Rolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight-forward, accessible and easily understood. Still a touchstone text for me and one I use in class.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ethnographic Interview
by James P. Spradley
required text for college courses for uni in australia

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, along with a companion volume "Participant Observation," are the gold standard when it comes to the methodology of ethnographic research.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Older, published in 1970 something, but still considered the go-to book on ethnographic research. I'm using it for background reading for my dissertation.

[Brinacindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

i want to read this book

[Henry Dissell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated but not dated. Spradley's insights are vintage and timeless. Anyone new to the field can benefit.