Reading Ethnographic Research: A Critical Guide (Aspects of Modern Sociology)

In this text the author provides guidelines for the critical reading of ethnographic research, and at the same time tackles the controversial issues it raises about the nature of ethnographic work, and that of qualitative research generally. Is it scientific? If replication of ethnographic studies is not possible how can their validity be assessed? What role should values play in ethnographic work? What should the standards be? The discussion is illustrated throughout with examples from the literature. The book concentrates on the objective reading of ethnographic research and provides a framework of ideas for the student to follow when reading ethnographic studies. The author uses examples from the literature to illustrate points made.