Karen O'Reilly

I’m working on a new book that embraces exciting, innovative and creative approaches to ethnography while remembering the fundamentals, and perhaps even daring to be a bit normative about what ethnography should get right (it is work in progress). Those fundamentals include (see here for Part One): 

5. Being creative and flexible: Ethnography is by its nature characterized by imagination and resourcefulness, engaging with participants through various activities including such approaches as visual and sensory methods, embodied participation, and collaborative design processes. And now there are more creative qualitative techniques—such as arts-based methods, mapping, digital tools, zine-making, and construction play—that we can use to further enhance our work. 

Making it: I am learning through making jewellery, but I could also consider other creative approaches that are more overtly productive. I wonder how it would enhance my ethnography if I spent some time working with other crafters on different techniques, such as woodwork. 

6. Taking time: Ethnography is not a snapshot understanding of a situation: people have often spent from a few months to several years doing ethnography. Time is necessary for us to be iterative-inductive, to build rapport, to engage with others, to make sense of what has been understood in the context of our own lives, to engage ethically in reflexive practice.

Making it: I have been making jewellery for over seven years. I’m not suggesting an ethnography should take so long: time is a quality not a quantity. 

7. Building trust and rapport: Ethnographers take time to build rapport and trust in order that participants share insights into their worlds freely and happily, and meaningfully, in different contexts and under different conditions. 

Making it: In my crafting ethnography I’m fortunate enough to already have spent a few years becoming what we might call an ‘insider’ or a member of the community. But that might make it even more difficult to switch roles when asking questions and analysing. I will need to be constantly sensitive (and reflexive). 

8. Analysing social change: Ethnographers tend to do their research over a period of time and this lends itself to a longitudinal perspective. It is uniquely placed to understand processes and practices as they unravel and inform each other. Ethnographers should pay attention to history and to futures. 

Making it: For my craft-making ethnography I am going to admit that I haven’t thought about this enough yet. However, the current economic climate, the future in terms of climate crisis and sustainability, the historical development of tools and techniques are all going to be relevant. 

9. Being ethical and reflexive: Using participatory and ethnographic methods raises ethical challenges that need careful, thorough and ongoing consideration. Being ethical and reflexive are ongoing practices (things we do), informed by principles, that, because ethnography is unpredictable, require us to be responsive and flexible.

So, there are at least nine fundamental principles of ethnography. We could say these define ethnography, but I want to go further and say they should be done well. So far I haven’t got to the why of all this yet. Wait for the next blog post….(I think I have started to write my new book!!! )

Meanwhile read the book Qualitative Research Methods for Everyone .

You might also enjoy The Qualitative Research Methods for Everyone Podcast https://shows.acast.com/qualitative-research-methods-for-everyone-podcast/episodes