Ethnographic Study

A qualitative research methodology originating in anthropology that involves prolonged, immersive observation of people in their natural environments to understand their behaviours, practices, and social contexts. In accessibility and assistive technology research, ethnographic studies involve spending extended time with people with disabilities in their daily settings — homes, workplaces, community spaces — to observe how they actually use technology, communicate, and navigate barriers. This approach often reveals needs and workarounds that would not surface in laboratory-based usability studies, making it particularly valuable for designing technology that fits into the complex realities of disabled people's lives.