Abstract
Aim: To present a refined approach to analysing ethnographic data that preserves the distinctiveness of ethnography while ensuring it meets contemporary expectations of methodological rigour.
Design: Methodological discussion paper.
Data Sources: The approach draws on established ethnographic scholarship and is guided by Wolcott's framework for transforming qualitative data through three interrelated stages: description, analysis and interpretation. A practical application is illustrated through a focused ethnography exploring how older Vietnam-born Australians understand and manage chronic disease.
Implications for Nursing Practice: Focused ethnography has become increasingly popular in nursing research as it reflects the dual nature of the profession: striving to generate rigorous evidence while preserving the humanistic depth and contextual understanding that are central to nursing practice. This paper provides a methodological guide for nurse researchers to analyse ethnographic data in ways that preserve contextual richness while ensuring analytical rigour.
Impact: The approach presented advances the debate on the methodological quality of research in nursing and health and supports the generation of high-quality evidence.
Conclusion: Ethnography, particularly in its focused form, must continue to meet high standards that balance art and science, narrative and analysis. Nurse researchers are encouraged to embrace a balanced approach to ensure that ethnography remains both scientifically credible and deeply human.
Patient or Public Contribution: Patients or the public were not involved in this methodological discussion paper; the illustrative example draws on ethically approved doctoral research.
Keywords
nursing research, ethnography, focused ethnography, qualitative research, chronic disease, older adults
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
E-ISSN
13652648
ISSN
03092402
Publication Title
Journal of Advanced Nursing
Publisher
Wiley
School
School of Nursing and Midwifery
RAS ID
101926
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Nguyen, T. N. M., Dermody, G., Saunders, R., & Whitehead, L. (2026). Beyond coding: Balancing interpretive depth and rigour in ethnographic data analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing. Advace online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.70682