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The world of complexity has brought us so many definitions, theories and knowledge, that it is impossible to talk about a subject concentrating on a single topic without taking into account the others that are related to each other. According to its author, the French philosopher and sociologist Edgar Morin (Paris, 1921) "Complexity Theory is based on the idea that complex systems are those that are composed of many interconnected elements and that interact in a non-linear way. In education, these elements can be students, teachers, curricula, technologies, among others."
By talking about Ethnography as a qualitative model, without delving into it´s complexities, it allows us to take advantage of a common definition, proposed by several authors, who point out that ethnography is "... the descriptive study of the customs and traditions of the peoples". When studying the etymological origin of the word we have that Ethno means tribe, race or people and Grapho or graphy, means description; it means, then, that ethnography is the study of the customs, beliefs and traditions of a race or a people. For many, it is the most widely used resource in anthropology and, for others, the true methodology of social science research.
The intention of this article is to approach the clarification of some definitions of ethnography and the theoretical concepts that support it, such as: design and planning of ethnographic study, negotiation, fieldwork. participant observation, interview, survey, entrapment, the marginal native and many more.
Ethnography, which, for some, is a science, and for others, a research method, is the true raison d'être and strategy of anthropology. Today it is applied in the social sciences as such, but also in all fields of knowledge. Participant observation, referring to Paulo Freire, is one of his most enriching tasks, to reach desired results. To deepen what has been said, let us listen to Doctor (Rudolf, Gloria. (2023), an american sociologist and ethnographer, when she points out: "I am of the opinion that participant observation fieldwork, despite its complications and limitations, opens the door to the everyday world of the creation of history as no other method of research can offer" (Rudolf, 2023).
We will approach the subject in its theoretical part from the perspective of Bronislaw Malinowski (Poland, 1884-USA, 1942), who is considered the Father of Ethnographic Research. I also explain the contributions of other important ethnographers, including, because it is necessary, some Panamanian researchers and ethnographers who have made great contributions to knowledge. And I also define the different types of ethnography, to the point of explaining some methodological models of research most used by it.
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