Doing Ethnography

Written by a sociologist and an anthropologist, this concise primer is packed with clear methodological guidance and engaging stories that illustrate what ethnography looks like in practice. The text follows the arc of a typical ethnographic study, with ethics and social justice concerns highlighted throughout. Jessica Smartt Gullion and Susan Harper address practical considerations in developing a research question, planning and conducting fieldwork, and dealing with common pitfalls. They show how to organize and analyze data, using techniques from grounded analysis to poetic inquiry. The book addresses the politics of fieldwork, discomfort and safety issues, and who has the right to tell others’ stories, and offers advice on writing up and publishing ethnographic work for different audiences. Chapters include opening vignettes, boxes on key techniques, discussion questions, exercises, and prompts for contemplative learning.

Jessica Smartt Gullion, PhD, is Professor of Sociology at Texas Woman’s University. She has published several books and more than 35 book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals such as Qualitative Inquiry, the International Review of Qualitative Research, and the Journal of Autoethnography. Susan Harper, PhD, is Director of Co-Curricular Student Development at Iowa State University. She is an educator, activist, advocate, and scholar whose interests include feminist pedagogy, qualitative inquiry as a tool for social justice, ethnography, and contemporary Paganism.