Author Description
Ethnographers rely on three related activities to conduct research in the field: observation, conversation, and participation. Observing others in their environments and using this data to inform and share conclusions is an essential part of any fieldworker's toolkit. However, many ethnographers' observational muscles tend to be their weakest. Fortunately, Christena Nippert-Eng's Watching Closely: A Guide to Ethnographic Observation provides a practical, interactive guide for improving one's powers of observation. The book includes nine exercises for practicing observational skills, including a preparatory briefing and post-exercise discussion. Nippert-Eng also offers a weblink (global.oup.com/us/watchingclosely) to sample responses from her previous students, providing an additional resource beyond the text itself. Beyond the traditional tenets of field work, Watching Closely encourages readers to pursue more creative ways of collecting and analyzing data, such as sketching, diagramming, and photography, as well as developing more concrete expectations for the potential uses and meanings of ethnographic data. Engaging and accessible, Watching Closely offers a guide for readers to not only strengthen their core skills and mindset as fieldworkers, but also to produce research that is more scientifically rigorous and persuasive. From social and behavioral scientists to user-centered designers and architects, undergraduate students to experienced fieldworkers, a vast array of readers will reap the benefits of learning more about how we observe.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the core methodological challenge of improving observational skills within ethnographic fieldwork to produce more rigorous and persuasive research. Christena Nippert-Eng, a seasoned scholar in the field, draws upon her extensive experience in teaching and conducting qualitative research to provide a structured framework for fieldworkers. She argues that observation is a skill that requires deliberate practice and offers a systematic approach to refining how researchers perceive and document their environments.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Nine structured exercises designed to enhance observational acuity
- Methodologies for integrating creative data collection such as sketching, diagramming, and photography
- A digital resource link providing access to sample student responses for comparative analysis
Scope Limits
- The text focuses primarily on the act of observation rather than the broader spectrum of ethnographic analysis or writing
- It does not provide an exhaustive history of ethnographic theory or qualitative research paradigms
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and practitioners frequently highlight this text as a practical, hands-on resource that bridges the gap between theoretical training and field application. Readers note that the exercises are particularly effective for students and professionals looking to sharpen their sensory and analytical focus during data collection.
Page Count:
291
Publication Date:
2015-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190235543
ISBN-13:
9780190235543
Qualitative Research
Social Science
Sociology
Ethnography
Anthropology
Research Methods