Political Ethnography - Online (join a waiting list)

Description:

This online course, taught over four mornings, aims to teach participants how to conduct qualitative field research, particularly participant observation and ordinary language interviewing. The course provides an understanding of the distinctiveness of ethnographic fieldwork compared to other data collection methods. By the end of the course, students should be able to understand how to conduct ethnography rigorously and the skills needed to produce high-quality ethnographic research. Students will be able to practice data collection methods associated with ethnography, such as participant observation, field notes, and ordinary language interviews. Finally, the course will discuss how to use fieldwork data to produce new and general theoretical insights.

The course covers: 

• Introduction to Ethnography 

• Ordinary Language Interview 

• Participant Observation

• Digital Ethnography 

• Theory building with qualitative data 

By the end of the course participants will:

• Explain the distinctive features of ethnographic fieldwork, particularly how participant observation and ordinary language interviewing differ from other qualitative research methods.
• Apply core ethnographic methods such as participant observation, field notes, digital ethnography, and interviews in their own research projects
• Critically assess the methodological and ethical considerations involved in designing and conducting ethnographic research.
• Analyse fieldwork data to generate theoretical insights

Target Audience

• Postgraduate students (Master’s and PhD) in political science, sociology, anthropology, international relations, cultural studies, linguistics, arts, geography, archaeology, anthropology, and development studies, and related fields who are interested in incorporating ethnographic methods into their research;
• Early-career researchers and practitioners studying political or social dynamics who wish to strengthen their qualitative fieldwork skills—especially in participant observation and interviewing;
• Students planning or currently conducting fieldwork, particularly those working on topics like political parties, social movements, state institutions, or the everyday practices of politics.

Preparatory Reading

Borges Martins da Silva, Mariana, 2025. "Notes from the Classroom: Lessons and Best Practices for Teaching Digital Ethnography", Qualitative and Multi-Method Research.

Schatz, Edward. 2009. “Ethnography Immersion and the Study of Politics.” In Political Ethnography: What Immersion Contributes to the Study of Power. University of Chicago Press.

Hammersley, G., M. Hammersley, and P. Atkinson. 1995. Ethnography: Principles in Practice. Research Methods, Sociological Theory, Ethnography. Routledge. (Chapter 1)

Jerolmack, Colin, and Shamus Khan. 2014. ‘Talk Is Cheap: Ethnography and the Attitudinal Fallacy’. Sociological Methods & Research 43 (2): 178–209. 

Schaffer, F.C. 2014. Elucidating Social Science Concepts: An Interpretivist Guide. Routledge Series on Interpretive Methods. Routledge. (Chapter 1, 2)

Schaffer, Frederic Charles. 2006. ‘Ordinary Language Interviewing’. In Interpretation and Method: Empirical Research Methods and the Interpretive Turn, edited by Dvora Yanow and Peregrine Schwartz-Shea, 150–60. Armonk, London: M.E. Sharpe.

Lareau, Annette. 2021. Listening to People: A Practical Guide to Interviewing, Participant Observation, Data Analysis, and Writing It All Up. Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing. Chicago ; London: The University of Chicago Press. (chapter 4 and 5)

Walt, Kathleen M., and Billie R. DeWalt. 2011. Participant Observation: A Guide for Fieldworkers. Rowman Altamira. (chapter 2-5) 

Emerson, R.M., R.I. Fretz, and L.L. Shaw. 2011. Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes, Second Edition. Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing. University of Chicago Press. (Chapters 1-3)

Fujii, Lee Ann. 2012. “Research Ethics 101: Dilemmas and Responsibilities.” PS: Political Science & Politics 45 (4): 717–23. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049096512000819.

Fu, Diana. 2017. “Disguised Collective Action in China.” Comparative Political Studies 50 (4): 499–527. (Please also read the methodological appendix)

Borges Martins da Silva, Mariana. 2023. “Weapons of Clients: Why Do Voters Support Bad       Patrons? Ethnographic Evidence from Rural Brazil.” Latin American Politics and Society 65 (1): 22–46.

Timmermans, Stefan, and Iddo Tavory. 2012. ‘Theory Construction in Qualitative Research: From Grounded Theory to Abductive Analysis’. Sociological Theory 30 (3): 167–86

There are no prerequisites. The course is designed to be accessible to those new to ethnographic research, though some familiarity with qualitative methods may enhance your experience.

PLEASE NOTE THIS COURSE EQUATES TO 1.5 DAYS FOR PAYMENT PURPOSES.

Programme

21 November – 10AM-12PM

Introduction to Ethnography and Ordinary Language Interview

28 November - 10AM-12PM

Participant Observation

5 December 10AM-12PM

Writing Fieldnotes; Digital Ethnography 

12 December - 10AM-12PM

Constructing Theory with Ethnographic Data 

 

Cost:

The fee per teaching day is:

• £60 per day for students registered at any University.
• £150 per day for staff at academic institutions, Research Councils researchers, public sector staff and staff at registered charity organisations and recognised research institutions.
• £350 per day for all other participants

All fees include event materials and morning and afternoon refreshments.

In the event of cancellation by the delegate a full refund of the course fee is available up to two weeks prior to the course. NO refunds are available after this date.

If it is no longer possible to run a course due to circumstances beyond its control, NCRM reserves the right to cancel the course at its sole discretion at any time prior to the event. In this event every effort will be made to reschedule the course. If this is not possible or the new date is inconvenient a full refund of the course fee will be given. NCRM shall not be liable for any costs, losses or expenses that may be incurred as a result of its cancellation of a course, including but not limited to any travel or accommodation costs.

The University of Southampton’s Online Store T&Cs also continue to apply.

Website and registration:

Register for this course

Region:

South East

Keywords:

Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis, Ethnography, Qualitative Approaches (other), Participant Observation, Ethnographic Observation, Ordinary Language Interview, Qualitative Interview Design, Reflexivity, Transparency

Related publications and presentations from our eprints archive:

Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis
Ethnography
Qualitative Approaches (other)

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