ABSTRACT
Ethnographic methods are not often employed in political science research, but when they are, they can provide great quantities of important information. The main reason for their infrequent use is that these study designs typically require more time to conduct than researchers are able to devote to their research projects. In their parent disciplines of anthropology and sociology, ethnographic studies may take as long as six months to a year or more to complete. When they can be used in political science research, however, they have the potential to produce powerful narratives that provide deep insight into the needs of society.
