Hi, I have used a rapid (quick, short-term) ethnographic approach to answer my research question which is based on small community development NGO processes. My question here is multifaceted...please answer one or more!
1. Is ethnography (outsider's observations and interpretations) antithetical to community development values of bottom-up, participant driven, indigenous research methods?
2. How short is too short for observation to be worthwhile and valid?
3. Can an observer justify their interpretations of the small slice of interactions that they see over the course of a few days as valid?
4. What do you think are some problems and benefits of rapid ethnography?