Reflections on Fieldwork: Toward a More Scientific, Creative, and Ambitious Ethnography

• In Event: 082 - Open Refereed Roundtable Session I
  In Refereed Roundtable: A. Table 11. Ethnomethodology

Abstract

In this paper, I advocate for an approach to fieldwork that is more 1) scientific, reflecting a commitment to systematic observation; a well-defined analytical perspective; the use of a daily, mission-driven approach to gathering data; and the clear and clever operationalization of key concepts in order to produce work that is more rigorous, amenable to peer review and that transcends any specific project; 2) creative, drawing on observation-based work and our capacity to envision, acquire and convey data in original, compelling ways to capitalize on individual researchers’ unique talents and perspectives; and 3) ambitious, extending ethnography’s reach and increasing its efficiency and effectiveness to address more complex and diverse problems.

Author

• Christena Nippert-Eng, Illinois Institute of Technology