What does ethnography primarily study?

Ethnography primarily studies the qualitative aspects of human life in natural environments, making it a valuable method for understanding social phenomena from the perspective of those involved. This approach emphasizes observing people in their everyday settings, allowing researchers to gather in-depth insights into behaviors, interactions, and cultural practices. By immersing themselves in the community or context they are studying, ethnographers can capture the richness and complexity of social life, which often cannot be replicated through quantitative methods that focus on numerical data and patterns.

In contrast to other options, which focus on controlled experiments, theoretical constructs, or statistical analyses, ethnography's strength lies in its ability to provide a nuanced understanding of human experiences and social dynamics as they unfold in real-life situations. This qualitative methodology is particularly effective for exploring how individuals perceive their world, how culture shapes social interactions, and how meanings are constructed within specific contexts.