Street Ethnography

of J.P. Laurel St.

( Area 2, UP Diliman)

INTRODUCTION
Basics of street ethnography

Street ethnography is an emerging research

approach that focuses on public exterior
spaces sidewalks, parks, neighbourhood
spaces. Both the ethnographer and the
ethnographic participants are moving
through these public spaces and so are
engaged with each other in informal ways as
both use these spaces in a fairly equal way.
The tools for street ethnographers include
neighbourhood walks, going along with
ethnographic participants, and photography.
(Madison, 2012)

METHODS
Overview of the ethnographic methods
used

METHODS

In-depth
Interviews
- Semi-structured
interviews (flexible set of
questions)
- Seven (7) informants: 3
customers, 3 student
boarders, 2 stall
employees

Participant
Observation
- Immersing oneself into the
Area 2 community to gain
deeper understanding on the
intricacies of the social
relationships and culture of
the area
- Taking walks, eating at Area
2

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Customer

How frequent do you go to Area 2?

What services do you avail there? (dining, laundry, etc.)
Why do you choose Area 2 for those services?
What is your favorite food stall in the area?
Describe using your senses your experience as a customer.
What does Area 2 mean to you? Years from now, what will it
remind you of?

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Boarder

How would you describe Area 2?

How is life living in Area 2 (advantages and disadvantages)?
How is your relationship with your landlord/landlady?
Why did you choose to board here?
Are you enjoying your stay?
Do you always eat in the area?
What is your favorite food stall?

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Stall employee
How is life working at Area 2 (advantages and
disadvantages)?
Do you encounter any problems during the day?
Do you like your job here at Area 2? Why?
What does Area 2 mean to you?

RESULTS
Overview of interview answers

RESULTS

Customers
All go to Area 2 for food.
Area 2 provides them a wide range of food choices that are
within budget. Sulit yung pagkain.
Description of the Area: looks like a typical neighborhood
where people know each other, many food stalls
Using senses: mainit, amoy pagkain, malasa naman yung food,
amoy washing machine yung laundry shop
Reason for choosing Area 2: proximity to their college,
affordable food, they want to stress-eat, friends choose to eat
there

RESULTS

Boarders
Description of Area 2: central hub of UP students who want
to eat and forget about their stressful day, always crowded
Advantages: It's near; just a few steps from good and
affordable food; getting to live with friends
Disadvantages: It can get loud at times; long jeepney lines in
the morning
When with friends, eating out needs to be more special
(Maginhawa or Katipunan)
Favorite food stall has friendly servers and good food at a
sulit price

RESULTS

Stall Employees
Only go to UP to work, lives outside UP.
Using senses: maingay pag maraming tao, amoy pagkain
dahil maraming kainan
Good relationship with their boss
Haven't really explored Area 2 because she needs to man the
stall
Maraming customer, pero marami ring ibang stalls."

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OLFACTORY MAP

DISCUSSION

Through the research, we were able to create an image of

Area 2 from the perspective of different types of people
who frequent the place (boarders, customers, and stall
employees). We observed interactions small physical
distances but large social distances (people who barely
know each other) in a residential/commercial setting.

DISCUSSION

As an anthropological concept, place is widely understood

to be made by the people who use and imagine it. Place
equals space plus meaning; individuals and groups make
places relevant and meaningful through their actions and
ideas.

REFERENCES

Ethnography of the Street.

https://www.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/sociology-social-anthropol
ogy/FacultyProfileFiles/Radice%202011.PDF
Ethnographic Methodology.
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/rs4hazards/links/Social-KateG/Ethnographic
%20Methodology.htm
Street Ethnography.
http://blogs.ubc.ca/qualresearch/street-ethnography/