Ethnographic performance and its flexibility in researching a traditional healing system in southern Thailand

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the experience of carrying out an ethnographic research in the real world with six different participant groups from different backgrounds and embodying different expertise in traditional medicine. The paper will discuss why some approaches do not go well with some key informant groups and will demonstrate a suitable method that function better with those groups. The paper also argues that there is unpredictability of doing research in the real world, and this is crucial knowledge for novice researchers, and researchers who wish to embark on their research in different communities.

Design/methodology/approach

Ethnography comprising of in-depth interviews, participant observation, focus group and unobtrusive methods.

Findings

Listening to traditional healers’ explanation of their roles, patients’ perspectives of their treatments and the views of other participant groups will help us to understand the role of traditional healers, how effective their treatment is, and the possibilities for, and barriers to co-operation with the modern health care system. Ethnographic approach addresses deep understanding about cultural phenomena and issues in the real world because it captures everyday life and practices among local people.

Practical implications

The principle of ethnography requires a researcher being in the field and living with the local people for a long period of time. This provides the researcher with the opportunity to learn and experience a new world on his/her own.

Originality/value

Although the process of carrying out an ethnographic study is unpredictable, the methodological approach the paper employs in this study has resulted in valuable outcomes to a novice ethnographer. The paper would suggest to other novice ethnographers that this methodology is a very worthwhile approach in terms of exploring, learning and understanding the new world.

Citation

Suwankhong, D. and Liamputtong, P. (2013), "Ethnographic performance and its flexibility in researching a traditional healing system in southern Thailand", Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 244-252. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-03-2013-0018