ABSTRACT
Ethnographic research has its roots in anthropological and cross-cultural study. In its broadest sense it encompasses any study that aims to describe some aspect of the sociocultural understandings and practices of a group of people. Early childhood researchers have conducted ethnographic research for a wide range of purposes. It has been applied to the study of the educational outcomes for children of early years provision. In the context of preschool improvement and effectiveness studies, ethnographic researchers have often succeeded in getting below the surface of general evaluative characteristics identified in checklists and rating scales looking at quality. Those embarking on their first ethnographic study are often nervous about the prospect of conducting participant observation but it is found that most early childhood settings to be extremely friendly and easy-going places. Ethnographical observations are used in a comparative study of early childhood educational provision in Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.
