Ethnography has been defined in different ways, and controversy has persisted over time about the precise nature of ethnography and how it differs from sociology, social anthropology, or anthropology. Contemporary ethnography appears to have at least three characteristics: (1) aims at producing highly specific, small-scale, and richly descriptive accounts of people's lives; (2) approaches living patterns, values, relationships, activities, knowledge, and beliefs using detailed and close observations; and (3) does not seek to develop causal or explanatory theories paralleling scientific research models. Ethnographic studies of young people involve asking them to tell their life stories, and ethnography is affected by politics to the extent of whose life stories get told. The goal of a good ethnographic study is primarily to assess behaviors, values, and attitudes of young people by establishing what these actions and thoughts mean. Exploring and understanding the lives of young people, however, may not always be easy, particularly since research findings may reveal the ugly or immoral side of individuals. 43 references