You are here

The Ethnographic Self
Share

The Ethnographic Self
Fieldwork and the Representation of Identity



192 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
What are the relationships between the self and fieldwork? How do personal, emotional and identity issues impact upon working in the field?

This book argues that ethnographers, and others involved in fieldwork, should be aware of how fieldwork research and ethnographic writing construct, reproduce and implicate selves, relationships and personal identities. All too often research methods texts remain relatively silent about the ways in which fieldwork affects us and we affect the field. The book attempts to synthesize accounts of the personal experience of ethnography. In doing so, the author makes sense of the process of fieldwork research as a set of practical, intellectual and emotional accomplishments. The book is thematically arranged, and illustrated with a wide range of empirical material.

 
Introduction
 
Locating the Self
 
The Interpersonal Field
 
The Embodiment of Fieldwork
 
The Sex(ual) Field
 
Romancing the Field
 
Writing the Self
 
(Re)Presenting the Field
 
Consequences and Commitments

`Whether you are contemplating ethnographic research, have already done it or are primarily interested in it as a reader, this book should deepen your appreciation of one of the most challenging activities that any social scientist or management research can engage in' - Management Learning

`The chapter entitled "The sex(ual) field" is a good example of how challenging Coffey's work is. She considers how the sexual status of the researcher can make a difference to the research; what the implications are surrounding physical sexual activity occurring during fieldwork; as well as fieldwork conducted in explicitly erotic settings. By considering this most personal of arenas, Coffey highlights the existence and participation of the researcher as a whole in the ethnographic research process....The Ethnographic Self is a useful reminder of the ways in which real people are involved in social research' - British Educational Research Journal

Amanda Coffey

My research interests are underpinned by a sustained, critical methodological engagement with ethnographic and qualitative research. This includes work on contemporary developments in qualitative data analysis, writing and representation, as well as a focus on of the self and (auto)biography in qualitative inquiry. I have led and been involved in a number of funded projects focussing on qualitative research methods and methodological development. I am currently the Director of the Cardiff Node of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences: Innovation, Integration and Impact ... More About Author

SAGE Research Methods is a research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 175,000 pages of SAGE’s renowned book, journal and reference content with truly advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings. Since SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, it can be used across the social sciences, health sciences, and more.