Which of the following best describes ethnography?

Ethnography is best characterized as a detailed study grounded in qualitative research methods. This approach emphasizes an in-depth understanding of specific cultural groups through immersive observation, interviews, and participation in daily life. Ethnographers strive to capture the complexities, practices, beliefs, and social interactions of the people they study, which allows for rich, descriptive insights into the culture.

Qualitative methods typical of ethnography, such as participant observation and open-ended interviews, enable researchers to gather nuanced data that quantitative methods may overlook. This focus on lived experiences and cultural contexts leads to a comprehensive portrayal of a community, rather than merely summarizing numerical data or making broad comparisons. Ethnography is not primarily concerned with counting or measuring cultural traits, nor does it typically involve experimental designs or language analysis in a technical sense. Instead, it prioritizes deep engagement with the subjects and their environments to produce a narrative that reflects their realities.