Abstract

GIACOMELLI PROCHNOW, Adelina; GUEDES DOS SANTOS, José Luís; SOARES DE LIMA, Suzinara Beatriz  and  LUZIA LEITE, Joséte. Ethnography in nursing research: The construction of a "dense description". Index Enferm [online]. 2009, vol.18, n.1, pp.47-51. ISSN 1699-5988.

The ethnography has been often used in nursing researches. However, it is still considered by many researchers as a scientific method for studies of exotic cultures or poorer social groups. This paper aims to report and share its authors’ experiences with the use of the ethnography as a methodological approach in the investigation one tried to understand the cultural perspectives that involve the leadership practice of the nurse in the hospital context. The theoretical and methodological approach used in this investigation was the Interpretative Anthropology by Clifford Geertz. There are conceptual and practical considerations which are vivified in the construct of the ethnographic analysis, which involved the use of research techniques participant observation and semi-structured interview, allowing the construction of a "dense description" of the object in question. One highlights the ethnography as a possibility to be explored in the study of phenomena that involve nursing management and work.

Keywords : Cultural Anthropology; Qualitative Research; Nursing Research.