The process of participant-observation can be especially helpful to understanding a culture from an emic (conceptual, vs. etic, or technical) point of view.
ðə pɹˈɑːsɛs ʌv pɑːɹtˈɪsɪpəntɑːbzɚvˈeɪʃən kæn biː ɪspˈɛʃəli hˈɛlpfəl tʊ ˌʌndɚstˈændɪŋ ɐ kˈʌltʃɚ fɹʌm ɐn ˈɛmɪk kənsˈɛptʃuːəl, vˌiːˈɛs. ˈɛɾɪk, ɔːɹ tˈɛknɪkəl pˈɔɪnt ʌv vjˈuː.