Dr Nicole Blum | Two three-hour sessions | Spring: 13:00 to 16:00 Thursday February 19 + 26

NB: This course accrues 2 training points.

In these sessions we will explore how ethnographic research is conducted and look at a range of examples of research. The aim of the course is to familiarise students with the practice and key concerns of ethnography, and to consider its use in educational research. Below is a brief overview of the topics to be discussed in each session:

Workshop 1:

·A brief history of ethnography and a look at some of the different theoretical positions that ethnographers take up.

·Considering what ethnographers ‘do’ – the conduct of fieldwork and the range of research methods in an ethnographer’s ‘toolbox’ (e.g. participant observation, interviewing, taking field notes, participatory approaches, etc.).

Workshop 2:

• A look at the techniques and approaches used to analyse ethnographic ‘data’ and at the nature of ethnographic writing. In particular, we will consider long-standing debates about reflexivity and representation.
• Exploration of the key ethical considerations of conducting ethnographic research, and how these can be addressed.

The workshops will be organised around short lecture inputs, discussions and group work activities, and there will be time for a break halfway through each session. Please note that students are expected to engage with the course readings before the session so that they are prepared to actively participate in workshop activities (a reading list will be provided via Moodle after enrolment).

These introductory workshops are suitable to students at any stage of doctoral study, and will be of interest both to those that plan to use ethnography in their own research as well as those who have a more general interest in the methodology. Students who have already conducted ethnographic work and would like an opportunity to discuss and further reflect on their experiences are also welcome to attend. By the end of the course, students will have developed a clear sense of how ethnographic research is conducted and considered how it might be of use to their own work.

Indicative Readings:

· Hammersley, M. and Atkinson, P. (2019) Ethnography: Principles in Practice. 4th Edition. London: Routledge.

· Beach, D., Bagley, C. and Marques da Silva, S. (eds) (2018) The Wiley Handbook of Ethnography of Education. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

· Delamont, S. (2002) Fieldwork in Educational Settings: Methods, Pitfalls and Perspectives. 2nd Edition. London: Routledge.

· Atkinson P., Delamont, S., Coffey, A., Lofland, J. and Lofland, L. (ed.) (2007) Handbook of Ethnography. London: Sage.