Ethnography and the Interpretation of Social Reality: A Theoretical Examination of Culture in Qualitative Research

Azka Izzati Suryani (UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia)
Fatkhiyah Rozaqotul Falah (UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung Indonesia)
Isnina Fathi Fauziyyah (UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia)
Muhammad Rafi Gastiadirrijal (UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung Indonesia)
Siti Fathimah (UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung Indonesia)
Bayu Bambang Nurfauji (UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung Indonesia)

Demagogi: Journal of Social Sciences, Economics and Education
Vol. 4 No. 3 (2026)

Ethnography is a qualitative research approach used to understand culture and social reality from the participants' perspectives. This article aims to examine the role of ethnography in understanding and interpreting social reality through culture. The method employed is library research by reviewing relevant literature on ethnography. The findings indicate that ethnography enables researchers to gain an in-depth and contextual understanding of social phenomena through observation, interviews, and cultural analysis. Therefore, ethnography is a relevant approach for revealing meanings embedded in social and cultural life.