Ethnographic Methods

Ethnographic Methods has been a popular book with students and researchers. This new edition retains much of the quality of earlier ones with more detailed examples of methods in practice, and better coverage of digital, virtual and visual approaches. Ethnography is presented here as a reflexive, responsible, and relevant methodology.

Ethnographic Methods is a comprehensive and practical guide to employing traditional and innovative methods in the intimate study of social worlds. In this substantially revised edition, Karen O’Reilly peppers her account with real-life, published examples to illustrate the reflexive, responsible, and relevant character of contemporary ethnographic practice. The book includes in-depth and comprehensive coverage of a broad range of current debates, including digital, mobile, and participatory approaches. The book includes: extensive discussion of the impact of new advances, especially dealing with multiple and unspecific contexts; discussions and coverage of methodological pluralism and applied ethnography; debate about the continued distinctiveness and value of ethnography; and a full discussion of ‘how to do’ reflexivity and embraces sensory and digital ethnographic methods. With an important introduction that illustrates the theoretical framework on which ethnography is founded, the book retains a fine balance between practical guidance (on how to do ethnography), theory and epistemological principles.