Designing and Conducting Ethnographic Research

The third edition of Designing and Conducting Ethnographic Research: An Introduction is an invaluable resource for researchers and their partners interested in using ethnographic methods to find solutions to complex problems in different settings. In addition, to discussing the advantages of ethnographic fieldwork in research and evaluation, the authors review specific methods, ethics of fieldwork, research design, data collection and analysis, and conducting interdisciplinary ethnographic research. New additions to the volume include discussions about the decolonization of research and conducting ethnographic studies of AI and other digital technologies. This is an excellent resource for new and seasoned researchers and their partners in the community, government, and industry. * David Himmelgreen, professor of anthropology, University of South Florida *
The volume is a great source for both junior anthropologists and seasoned practitioners, and an indispensable resource in my classroom. Addressing urgent topics, such as the growing use of artificial intelligence and decolonial approaches, this new edition will surely confirm how useful ethnographic methods can be to solve real-world problems. * Karine L. Narahara, University of North Texas *
I have been using The Ethnographer’s Toolkit in my undergraduate research methodology course for many years. Students find the straightforward chapters, illustrative examples, clear definitions, and step-by-step approach to qualitative methods extremely accessible. I am delighted this updated edition addresses decolonizing research, ethics and power relations, positionality, grounded theory, interdisciplinary collaboration, digital methods and use of AI. This comprehensive resource is essential for all novice researchers. * Mara Leichtman, Michigan State University *
I studied the first edition of The Ethnographer’s Toolkit in graduate school, and I’ve been teaching the second edition for nearly a decade. I’ve found it to be one of the best resources for teaching and learning ethnographic methods, so I’m excited to begin teaching with the third edition of Designing and Conducting Ethnographic Research. It’s a sharper, more contemporary guide to fieldwork that rethinks ethics through the lens of power and positionality, adds fuller support for co-created and decolonizing intervention work, and clarifies how theory, design, analysis, and interdisciplinary teamwork fit together. * A. J. Faas, San José State University *
I have trained decades of anthropology, geography, and environmental psychology students in the ethnography of space and place using the Schensul and LeCompte toolkit with great success. My students like the graphics, boxed examples, additional references, signposts, and practice reminders, and especially the clear writing to navigate their first encounter with research design and fieldwork. In the new edition, the ethical and practical challenges of collaborative and collective research are explored with emphasis on teamwork and how to manage the strains and strengths of interdisciplinary research. As our landscapes of ethnographic inquiry have expanded to include digital and virtual, this edition guides students through the complex epistemologies and methodological problems that emerge and offers guidance on how to tackle our hybrid realities and field sites. The Schensul and LeCompte remains my go-to (favorite) research methods text and with this updated version, exceeds expectations of what is needed to address future research concerns. * Setha Low, The City University of New York *