Doing Ethnographies

Doing Ethnographies is an introductory and applied guide to ethnographic methods. It focuses on those methods - participant observation, interviewing, focus groups, and video/photographic work - that allow us to understand the lived, everyday world 'out there.' In five chapters it presents a systematic overview of: first principles, preparing for fieldwork, constructing ethnographic information, analyzing field materials, and writing. Informed by the authors fieldwork experience, the book covers the relation between theory, practice and writing, and demonstrates how methods work in the field, so preparing the first-time ethnographer for the loss of control and direction often experienced. In five short chapters it presents a systematic overview of: - first principles - the role of the detached researcher, the idea of a pure culture - preparing for fieldwork - initiating access, the relation of knowledge to ethics - constructing ethnographic information - participant observation, interviewing, focus groups, filmic approache Doing Ethnographies is an introductory and applied guide to ethnographic methods. It focuses on those methods - participant observation, interviewing, focus groups, and video/photographic work - that allow us to understand the lived, everyday world. Informed by the authors′ fieldwork experience, the book covers the relation between theory, practice and writing, and demonstrates how methods work in the field, so preparing the first-time ethnographer for the loss of control and direction often experienced. This is an introductory and applied guide to ethnographic methods, focusing on participant observation, interviewing, focus groups and video/photographic work. It covers the relationship between theory, practice and writing and demonstrates how methods work in the field Cover 1 Contents 6 Preface 8 Acknowledgements 12 Chapter 1 14 Section 1 18 Chapter 2 20 Chapter 3 30 Section 2 48 Chapter 4 50 Chapter 5 73 Chapter 6 103 Chapter 7 117 Section 3 142 Chapter 8 144 Chapter 9 163 Chapter 10 220 Notes 223 References 230 Index 253