Ethnography: Visions & Versions

In Chapter 3, Marian Crowley-Henry presents an aspect of the evolving research approach of ethnography and participant observation, delineating the complexities involved in classifying research as ethnographic, given underlying discrepancies in how the approach is applied and the respective philosophy behind its use. The chapter offers an overview of contemporary literature concerning ethnography in social research, from classic ethnography (such as Clifford, 1988; Mead, 2001[1928]) to the placement of all qualitative research as ethnographic (Mason, 2002). The author’s own research (Crowley-Henry, 2007; Crowley- Henry & Weir, 2007, 2009) is considered in order to provide a concrete example of a contemporary ethnographic piece of research. Practical examples of real fieldnotes and extracts from interview transcripts are presented in the chapter. Key guidelines for conducting ethnographic research are shared, meriting the adoption of an ethnographic approach to research, even for undergraduate students who may not have the opportunity to conduct longitudinal studies for their dissertations