Ethnography is strictly defined as the study of people in their own environment through the use of methods such as participant observation and face-to-face interviewing. The value of this format of research lies in the fact that it provides a level of intimacy and understanding that cannot be produced by statistics. I believe that it is much more appropriate and accurate to obtain information from individuals that actually belong to the community being studied, as opposed to gleaning over objective statistics or plainly inaccurate information from a textbook or article. Ethnography provides great way to reach to behind surface answers outsiders often receive, allowing the research to gain an insider’s perspective; moreover, a  variety of sources that can be used: interviews, videos, journals, etc. which can help to produce a more complete, intimate, and personal understanding of the community.

Critics of ethnography may suggest that it is susceptible to bias from both the investigator and the subject studied, providing a problematic barrier; however, analyzing these idiosyncrasies can reveal complex perceptions and mentalities that the subject has towards the interviewer, and other individuals in the community, and vice versa. The beauty of ethnography lies in its bidirectional nature, in the way it enables social learning to take place across both parties.