Which approach uses detailed field observations to study sociocultural events?

Ethnography is a qualitative research approach that seeks to understand cultural phenomena from the insider's perspective. It involves detailed field observations and often includes immersive engagement with the participants in their natural environment. This method allows researchers to gather deep insights into the behaviors, rituals, and practices of a particular community or social group, thereby capturing the complexities of sociocultural events in a way that other methods may not.

In ethnographic research, the researcher typically spends a considerable amount of time in the field, collecting data through various means, such as participant observation, interviews, and artifact analysis. This comprehensive approach helps to establish a richer context and a more nuanced understanding of the cultural dynamics at play.

The other methods, while valuable in their own right, do not focus as intensely on the in-depth observation of social practices and cultural settings. For instance, case studies might investigate a particular instance or individual in detail, often without the same level of immersive observation. Phenomenology is concerned with the lived experiences of individuals, but it does not inherently involve the observational component associated with sociocultural events. Focus group analysis gathers perceptions and insights from participants but lacks the immersive observational qualities that ethnography provides.