Name of Method
Brief description
Ethnographic interview is a method used to understand deeply the actions and motivations of people behind a theme or topic of research. This process relies on a close connection between the researcher and the community they are working in. In creating connections the researcher is able to get a more rich understanding of how the community functions and what their motivations towards climate actions are for example, which is reflected in interviews with stakeholders.
While it is not likely to help on technical challenges, it will be crucial for community issues and ‘why’ questions.
Type/Level of Method
Challenges
Ethnographic interviews can help create in-depth case studies and solutions for community problems, which in turn aids issues of representation as well as giving context and understanding for why participation and distrust occur in certain places. This method acknowledges that there will be different experiences and issues throughout smaller and wider contexts.
Problem, Purpose and Needs
Solutions tend to be placed onto communities without real context or understanding of the different situations. The main aim of ethnographic interviews are to provide this missing context so solutions will be actually applicable to communities and give understanding to experts about how to contribute to identified barriers.
Relevance to Climate Neutrality
Challenges
Thematic Areas
Impact Goals
Issue Complexity
Issue Polarisation
Enabling Condition
Essential Considerations for Commissioning Authorities
Engagement Journey
Governance Models and Approaches
Enabling Conditions
Democratic Purpose
Spectrum of participation
Communication Channels
Actors and Stakeholder Relationships
Generally the stakeholders and actors form a close relationship due to the nature of ethnographic interviews
Participant Numbers
Actors and Stakeholders
Participant Recruitment
Interaction between participants
Format
Social Innovation Development Stage
Scope
Time commitment
This is a time intensive method, as it requires the researcher/s to establish a relationship with the interviewees and observe practices before interviewing subjects. This would take 2-4 weeks, however, the benefits of the process means connections with various communities and rich in quality data about problems and solutions. However, if there is a time constraint open-ended interviews that allow for exploration are ok to do at the beginning instead of the end.
Resources and Investments
Typical duration
Resources and Investments
In-house
Step by Step
Select stakeholders to participate in interviews, depending on what the aim of the project is, e.g. understanding a particular community’s needs to reach climate neutrality. Participate in and get to know the community. In doing so, conduct open-ended and exploratory interviews with the community to understand the issues they perceive related to the topic. Through open-ended questioning, new topics that were not considered by the stakeholder may be opened.
Evaluation
Connecting Methods
Data analysis of the interviews such as coding will help unearth core themes that can be compared to other communities/cities.
Flexibility and Adaptability
There is no one-fits-all model for preparing ethnographic interviews. Questions and answers emerge according to how stakeholders respond
Existing Guidelines and Best Practice
References and Further Resources
https://www.science-practice.com/blog/2015/01/15/challenge-mapping/
https://demoshelsinki.fi/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/demos-try-out-www-1.pdf