Ethnography is a battlefield. The conflicts between grounded theory, the extended case method, and abductive analysis only tell part of the story. From arguments over transparency and representation to fights over objects of analysis and case selection, people seem to love yelling at each other about this method. I have no doubt that we could spend the whole semester reading back-and-forth arguments. But, for the sake of time, we will focus on just two related debates. The first is an internal debate among sociologists that pushes us to consider the relative value and compatibility of observational data and self-report data. The second concerns an assault on ethnography from outside of sociology. Lastly, we’ll read excerpts from a new handbook that may help us navigate and survive the battlefield.  

Meanwhile, the fieldwork grind continues. Whether you’re doing independent fieldwork, participating in the gig work study, or participating in the courtroom study, you should be doing participant observation and/or observant participation every week and writing a substantial amount of field notes.