Ethnographic Lab

Led by Dr. Steven Black and Dr. Jennie Burnet, the ethnographic laboratory supports research in cultural, linguistic, and visual anthropology. It is a collaborative space for GSU students and faculty members to gain experience with qualitative research software and explore the potential of audio-visual technologies for the documentation and theorization of language, communication, and culture. Software for audio-visual editing, transcription, illustration, and qualitative coding allows students to analyze the rich details of social life and cultural practices and create digital products for data visualization, sharing of results, and ethnographic storytelling.

Graduate and undergraduate research students work in the lab on ethnographic research projects funded by private (National Geographic Society) and federal (National Science Foundation) grants. Under the guidance of Dr. Black and Dr. Burnet, students learn collaborative research skills, computer assisted qualitative data analysis, and applications of spatial analysis in ethnography. Anthropology students also use the ethnographic laboratory’s equipment to support their independent research projects.