This textbook explores practices, first-hand experiences and emerging ideas within organizational ethnography, providing a toolkit that prepares ethnographers for the uncertainties and realities of fieldworking.
Students faced with the complexities of qualitative observational techniques and considerations, such as the scope of the research, the personal and professional intertwined life of the qualitative research or the decision of when to leave the field, will find the book an extremely useful, practical guide. A range of experiences from a variety of academics at different stages of their career, to highlight the differences in practices, approaches, and encounters, are presented. The themes of the individual chapters cover three main areas: aspects to consider and reflect on before undertaking an ethnography; the process and experiences of conducting ethnographic work; and considerations for after the fieldwork. Particular attention is given to appreciating the complexity and practicalities of ethnographic work, providing a more experience-driven text, and understanding perspectives from a range of different approaches to organisational ethnography.
This book should be a recommended text for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying research methods within Business and Management. It is particularly important for all students and academics undertaking qualitative research, particularly ethnography.
Author(s): Jenna Pandeli, Neil Sutherland, Hugo Gaggiotti
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 264
City: London
Cover
Endorsement
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Contributors
1 Outlining a Practical, Emotional and Reflexive Approach to Organizational Ethnography
Defining Ethnography
Discussion Points
What Can I Do With this Advice in this Book? How Will It Help Me Prepare for an Ethnographic Project?
What Part Does Reflexivity Have in an Ethnographic Project? What Part Does the Researcher Play?
Should We Read and Write About the Emotions of Ethnographers? Is That Relevant?
Is Ethnographic Research Inexplicably Linked With Ethical Dilemmas?
How Can We Create Spaces to Discuss These Tensions?
A Final Note
References
Part I Emotions, Ethnography, and Fieldwork
2 Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself! Are You Cut Out for Ethnographic Fieldwork?
2.1 Ethnographic Research: Easier Said Than Practically Done!
2.2 Deep Immersion: Under the Influence of Pioneering Engagements in Ethnography
2.2.1 A.k.a. “life-World-Analytical Ethnography”
2.2.2 A.k.a. “Criminological Verstehen”
2.2.3 A.k.a. “Ethnographic Gameness”
2.2.4 There Is No “Playing It Safe” in Any Ethnography
2.3 The Triangle Chokehold of Ethnography: Confessional Tales From Academia, the Field, and Private Life
2.3.1 The Scientist: Let’s Talk About … Academic Stigmatization!
2.3.2 The Fieldworker: Let’s Talk About … Academic (Self) Exploitation!
2.3.3 The Ethnographer as a Citizen: Let’s Talk About … Ethnography and Private Affairs!
2.4 A Plea for Ethnography as Disinterested Behaviour
Notes
References
3 Too Close for Comfort? The Challenges and Unexpected Consequences of Immersed Ethnography
‘In the Void’ 11 January 2015: Confined Space Search and Rescue Exercise
Immersed Ethnography
Immersed Ethnography in Practice
Methodological Challenges
Emotion Work
Identity Struggles
Going Native
Immersed Ethnography in Practice – Some Reflections
Conclusion
Notes
References
4 Removing the Rose-Tinted Glasses: Fear, Risk and being Uncomfortable in Ethnographic Fieldwork
Why Might Ethnographic Studies Provoke Fear?
Fear and Risk in Our Fieldwork Relationships
Not Everyone Likes You: Fear of Rejection in the Field
Fear and Risk Following Us Out of the Field
So Why Talk About This?
1. Removing the Rose-Tinted Glasses for the Benefit of Novice Researchers
2. For Learning About Communities and Enhancing Our Analysis
3. For Rethinking Ethics and Risk in the Bureaucratic Process of Ethnography
Conclusion
References
5 Choosing to Reach Beyond Academic Goalposts: Ethnographer as Compassionate Advocate Inside an Immigration Detention Centre
Advocacy, Activism and Scholarship
The Research Context and Methods
Reflections On Becoming an Advocate Grounded in Compassion
Deliberate Choices: Potential Ways to Move Beyond Being an “Objective” Researcher
Conclusion
Notes
References
Part II Ethnography in the Field
6 Learning and Doing Autoethnography: Resonance, Vulnerability and Exposure
Conducting Autoethnography
Finding Autoethnography – Developing the Autoethnographic ‘Style’
Finding Your Autoethnographic ‘Voice’
Different Types of Autoethnography
Autoethnography in Organization Studies
Resonance
Exposure
Vulnerability
Conclusion
References
7 Rapid Ethnographies in Organizations: Ensuring Rich Data and Timely Findings
Introduction
Defining Rapid Ethnographies
The Use of Rapid Ethnographies in Organizations
Key Stages of Rapid Ethnographies
Case Studies
A Lone Researcher Rapid Ethnography in Hospitals in Argentina
A Team-Based Rapid Ethnography in Hospitals in the UK
Conclusion
References
8 Deception as a Moral Project: Covert Research and the Construction of the Ethical Self
A Reflexive Approach to Research Ethics
Traditional Views On Covert Ethnography
A Case for Covert Research
Entering the Field: Covert Research, the Lesser of Two Evils
Being Covert in the Field: Deception and Distance
Disclosure, Identity Catharsis and Crafting the Ethical-Self
Visibility Through Deception
Conclusion
Note
References
9 Ethnography On Sensitive Topics: Children’s Sexuality Education in Spain
SexAFIN in Context: Children’s Sexuality Education as a Sensitive Topic
Accessing the Field
Strategies to Accessing Children Through the School: Between Communicative Vigilance and Speakability
The Bridge Between the Community and the Research Team
SexAFIN in Action
Working With Teachers: Implications and Participatory Methodologies
Working With Children: Flexible Research Design and Data Collection
Conclusion
Notes
References
10 Reflexivity in Audio-Visual Ethnography: Thinking Through Practice
Observational Cinema and the Speaking Voice
Subjective Reflexivity
Lessons to Be Learned: How Can Reflexive Devices and Methodologies Contribute to Our Understanding of a Social Group Or Phenomenon?
Notes
References
Part III Beyond the Field
11 Exiting the Field: When Does an Ethnography Finish?
An Engaging Practice
The Reasons Ending Fieldwork
Time Frame
Financial Support and Emotional Responsibility
Disappearance of the Object of Study and Critical Situations
Ending Rituals
How Does an Ethnographic Study Finish?
Exiting and Its Implications
Exiting and Theorizing
Identity Spaces
Conclusion
Note
References
12 Jotting It Down: Writing and Analysing Fieldnotes
Setting the Scene: A Short Note On My Experience
Stage #1 – Jotting It Down
The Challenge: What to Include When Jotting?
Stage #2 Writing “Up” Jottings
#3 Analysing Your Fieldnotes
The Importance of Fieldnotes in Ethnographic Work: Final Thoughts
References
13 Making Sense of Field Material: From Euphoria to Despair and Back
An Ethnographic Reanalysis
An Engineer and a Sociologist Who Love Technology
Beginning Anew
Municipalities Do Not Do What They Say
Cyberfactories Produce Overflow of Information
Between Euphoria and Despair: Sense-Making
Notes
References
14 Learning to Fly: On Teaching the Ethnographic Craft
Learning and Teaching Ethnography
Teaching and Learning Ethnography
Privacy and Intimacy
Ethics
Support
Listening and Trust
Ethnographic Wisdom Outside of Academia
What We Have Learnt
Notes
Bibliography
15 Futures of Organizational Ethnography: (Post)pandemic Reflections and New Possibilities
Reflections From a Time of Pandemic
Responding to the Challenges of Covid in Real Time
Original Research Design
Revised Research Design
Methodological Assumptions
Ethical
Practical
Opportunities and Surprising Benefits
Speculating On the Futures of Organizational Ethnography
Ethnography in Digital Context
Ethnography in Crisis/of Crisis
Ethnography in Absentia
References
Index
