ethnography

/ɛθˈnɑgrəfi/

Ethnography is a type of anthropology that involves studying people in a particular society or culture by observing them in their natural setting. A student of ethnography might live in Moscow to gather information about Russian marriage practices.

First appearing in 1834, the noun ethnography combines the word ethno, meaning "race, culture," and graph, meaning "writing." If you study ethnography, you typically collect information through first-hand observation by participating in the society or culture you're studying. For example, as an ethnography student you might research the religious practices of an African tribe by living among the tribe members and taking part in their rituals and ceremonies.

Definitions of ethnography

1. noun

   the branch of anthropology that provides scientific description of individual human societies
   synonyms: descriptive anthropology

   type of:

   anthropology

   the social science that studies the origins and social relationships of human beings