Naked Fieldnotes

This book offers a fresh perspective on ethnographic research through actual fieldnotes and reflective essays, showcasing the challenges and rewards of the process. Naked Fieldnotes invites readers to explore this unique approach.

Ethnographic research has often been shrouded in mystery, leaving many curious about the realities of fieldwork, data collection, and analysis within the social sciences. Naked Fieldnotes serves as a unique compendium, presenting actual fieldnotes from contemporary ethnographic researchers across various modalities and traditions. This volume explores the intricacies of ethnographic research, its challenges, and its potential, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the field.

The book pairs fieldnotes derived from observations, interviews, drawings, photographs, soundscapes, and other modern recording techniques with short, reflective essays. These essays offer rich insights into how fieldnotes are created and influenced by the researchers' experiences. By presenting personal archives, Naked Fieldnotes demystifies the process of conducting qualitative research in the social sciences, illustrating the distinct advantages and challenges of ethnographic methods compared to other writing forms, such as reporting and travelogues.

By breaking down barriers surrounding the privacy of ethnographic writing, Naked Fieldnotes encourages scholars to adopt a diverse, multimodal approach to conceptualizing and executing ethnographic fieldwork. The contributions from various scholars provide a wealth of perspectives, making this an essential read for anyone interested in the complexities of ethnographic research and writing.