The writers saw themselves as
ethnographers, in
James P. Spradley's definition of the term: «The purpose of ethnography is to grasp the native's point of view, his relation to life, to realize his vision of his world» (The Ethnographic Interview).
One
ethnographer described the pattern of sibling chaperonage: «[Seventeen - year - old]
James Earl [Treppit] has begun visiting his girlfriend weekdays from 6:00 P.M. until the 11:00 P.M. parentally imposed curfew... Since he wants to visit outside the home, Mrs. Treppit had decided to allow him to do it as long as he agrees to take his 16 - year - old brother, Johnny, with him wherever he goes.