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ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERVIEW
Student’s name
Course name
Date
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Ethnographic Interview
Introduction
The interviewee is a middle-aged woman born and raised in the United States. In
addition, she is of Hispanic descent and speaks Spanish fluently. She works as a bilingual
elementary school teacher in a large urban district and has also worked as a tutor and an after-
school program coordinator. In her spare time, she volunteers at a local community center.
Moreover, I interviewed in the interviewee’s home.
I prepared for the interview by reading about cultural anthropology concepts related to
language and culture. In addition, I reviewed the interview questions beforehand to be ready for
the topic. I prepared using a textbook, reading other articles online, and watching videos. The
interviewee was very open and willing to share her experiences with me. Moreover, she was
patient in answering my questions and even provided additional information beyond what I had
asked. Furthermore, she was interested in hearing about my experiences and asked me about
myself. Overall, the interviewee was very friendly and hospitable.
Worldview
The interviewee's worldview is based on her understanding of humanity and God. She
believes that humanity is good and God is good, but also that evil exists in the world. In addition,
she believes that God is interested in humanity and that humans are capable of doing good. God
is concerned with the condition of humanity and its lack of love, attachment, and compassion.
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She also believes that culture is important and that it can be used to help people. Moreover,
Howell and Paris's idea of humankind states that all people are capable of good and evil.
1
Sadowski, C. F. (2021). Taking a Chance: A Narrative Inquiry of Mexican Origin Immigrants Living in the
American Midwest (Doctoral dissertation, Purdue University Graduate School).
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According to this idea, each person has their responsibility but not complete power over the
values they have been taught.
According to Ng (2021), Howell's argument on culture shapes people's worldviews.
Culture is not static but rather is constantly evolving and changing.
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As culture changes, so do
worldviews. Culture is a set of values, traditions, and norms a group or community shares. In
addition, the idea of culture is related to society because it includes the values and cultures that
form groups. When this cultural makeup exists in society among people, it can have a powerful
impact on worldviews.
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Moreover, as the implication of culture is that it is part of how humans
are normally shaped psychologically and socially, the strong influence of culture is evident
throughout people's daily lives.
The interviewee believes everyone should have the same life opportunities, regardless of
race or ethnicity. In addition, she also believes that it is important to learn about others. She also
believes that humans are good and that they should be treated with respect and dignity. These
beliefs have impacted her values and practices in several ways. For example, she is patient with
her students and tries to understand their needs.
Cultural values and practices
The interviewee’s cultural values and practices relating to communication emphasize the
importance of family bonds and relationships. The family is seen as the foundation of society,
and communication is key to maintaining those bonds. In addition, the interviewee believes that
communication is essential to maintaining relationships, both within the family and with
2
Ng, D. H. (2021). Brian M. Howell and Jenell Paris, Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective.
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Anheier, H. K. (2020). Cultures, Values, and Identities: What Are the Issues? Global Perspectives, 1(1).
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others.
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These values are significant because they impact how the interviewee interacts with
others. Moreover, she is more likely to communicate openly and honestly with her family and
friends and highly values relationships. These values also impact the way she teaches her
students. Furthermore, the interviewee strives to create a supportive and nurturing classroom
environment where her students can feel safe expressing themselves.
Conflict
The interviewee's cultural values and practices relating to communication and societal,
marital, and familial relationships are significant and impactful. For example, the interviewee's
culture values communication and relationships highly. This is evident in how the interviewee
interacts with her students and family. In addition, the interviewee is very patient and takes the
time to listen to others and build relationships. These values are significant because they impact
the interviewee's ability to build trust and rapport with others.
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Moreover, they also impact the
way she approaches conflicts, which is with patience and understanding.
Cultural values and practices impact how she interacts with people from other cultures.
For example, the interviewee's cultural values regarding communication place a high value on
speaking one's mind and being direct. In addition, this can lead to conflict when the interviewee
interacts with people from cultures that place a higher value on indirect communication.
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Nielsen, A. E., & Thomsen, C. (2018). Reviewing corporate social responsibility communication: a legitimacy
perspective. Corporate Communications: An International Journal.
5
Vuong, Q. H., Bui, Q. K., La, V. P., Vuong, T. T., Nguyen, V. H. T., Ho, M. T., ... & Ho, M. T. (2018). Cultural
additivity: behavioral insights from the interaction of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism in folktales.
Palgrave Communications, 4(1), 1-15.
5
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However, the interviewee is aware of this potential for conflict and has developed strategies for
dealing with it. For example, she is careful to listen closely to what people from other cultures
are saying and to try to understand their point of view. Moreover, she is willing to compromise
and adjust her communication style to meet the needs of the people she is interacting with.
Reflection
My background in anthropology and understanding of the interview process around
rapport and the underlying power structures of anthropologists impacted my understanding of
how the interviewee might respond to their questions. Using these techniques, I better
understood the interviewee and her culture. In addition, I played a very active role as the
interviewer. I felt that the pre-interview research and my worldview impacted my perception of
how the interviewee might respond to the questions prepared before the interview.
According to Rogers et al. (2021), pre-interview research reduces the possibility of
human error and consistency issues.
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Moreover, there were some surprises during the interview
process. For example, the interviewee was much more forthcoming than I expected. She was also
very open to discussing her personal experiences and sharing her opinions on various topics.
However, overall I felt that the interview went well.
Conclusion
The ethnographic interview concepts can be applied to interactions with people in my
field of study or ministry in several ways. In addition, I can use the concepts to help me
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Cruz, S. S., Roskamm, N., & Charalambous, N. (2018). Inquiries into public space practices, meanings, and
values. Journal of Urban Design, 23(6), 797-802.
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Rogers, L. G., Shearer, K., Hryniuk, S. S., Ray, L., & Rempel, G. R. (2021). Beyond the interview guide:
Experiences of practically and mindfully implementing interview guidelines when conducting research
with children and adolescents with chronic conditions and their siblings. International Journal of
Qualitative Methods, 20, 1609406920982148.
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understand the cultural background of the people with whom I am interacting. This
understanding can help me to better communicate with them and to understand their
perspectives. Moreover, these concepts can help me and others identify potential areas of
misunderstanding or conflict and address them proactively. Furthermore, the concepts can help
build rapport and trust with the people I am interacting with, which can lead to more productive
and positive interactions.
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Bibliography
Anheier, H. K. (2020). Cultures, Values, and Identities: What Are the Issues? Global
Perspectives, 1(1).
Cruz, S. S., Roskamm, N., & Charalambous, N. (2018). Inquiries into public space practices,
meanings, and values. Journal of Urban Design, 23(6), 797-802.
Ng, D. H. (2021). Brian M. Howell and Jenell Paris, Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A
Christian Perspective.
Nielsen, A. E., & Thomsen, C. (2018). Reviewing corporate social responsibility
communication: a legitimacy perspective. Corporate Communications: An International
Journal.
Rogers, L. G., Shearer, K., Hryniuk, S. S., Ray, L., & Rempel, G. R. (2021). Beyond the
interview guide: Experiences of practically and mindfully implementing interview
guidelines when conducting research with children and adolescents with chronic
conditions and their siblings. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20,
1609406920982148.
Sadowski, C. F. (2021). Taking a Chance: A Narrative Inquiry of Mexican Origin Immigrants
Living in the American Midwest (Doctoral dissertation, Purdue University Graduate
School).
Vuong, Q. H., Bui, Q. K., La, V. P., Vuong, T. T., Nguyen, V. H. T., Ho, M. T., ... & Ho, M. T.
(2018). Cultural additivity: behavioral insights from the interaction of Confucianism,
Buddhism, and Taoism in folktales. Palgrave Communications, 4(1), 1-15.
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Appendix A
I. How did you learn Spanish?
II. What is your experience as a bilingual elementary school teacher?
III. What challenges do you face when teaching Spanish to English speakers?
IV. What are your thoughts on the importance of bilingualism?
V. What motivates you to continue learning and teaching Spanish?
VI. What advice would you give to someone interested in learning Spanish?
VII. What are your thoughts on the importance of culture in language learning?
VIII. What advice would you give to someone interested in teaching Spanish to English
speakers?
IX. How has your understanding of humanity and God shaped your worldview?
X. What role does culture play in shaping your worldview?
XI. How have your beliefs about humanity impacted your values and practices?
XII. How did you learn about communication?
XIII. What role does communication play in your family?
XIV. What are your cultural values and practices regarding communication?
XV. How do these values and practices impact the way you interact with others?
XVI. How do they impact the way you teach your students?
XVII. How has your culture impacted the way you communicate and relate to others?
XVIII. What are some of the key values and practices that are important to you?
XIX. How do these values and practices impact how you interact with people from other
cultures?
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XX. Can you give an example of a time when you had to adjust your communication style to
meet the needs of someone from a different culture?
XXI. How do you deal with conflicts that arise due to cultural differences?
XXII. What advice would you give to someone communicating with someone from a culture
different from their own?
