ABSTRACT

Originally published 1992 What's Wrong With Ethnography? provides a fresh look at the rationale for and distinctiveness of ethnographic research in sociology, education and related fields. Relativism, critical theory, the uniqueness of the case study and the distinction between qualitative and quantitative research are all examined and found wanting as a basis for informed ethnography. The policy and political implications of ethnography are a particular focus of attention. The author compels the reader to re-examine some basic methodological assumptions in an exciting way.

chapter |8 pages

Introduction

part I|74 pages

Ethnography, Theory and Reality

chapter 1|21 pages

What’s Wrong with Ethnography?

The myth of theoretical description

chapter 3|14 pages

Ethnography and Realism

part II|74 pages

Ethnography, Relevance and Practice

chapter 5|11 pages

The Generalisability of Ethnography

chapter 6|27 pages

Critical Theory as a Model for Ethnography

chapter 7|12 pages

Parts that Even Ethnography Cannot Reach

Some reflections on the relationship between research and policy

chapter 8|22 pages

On Practitioner Ethnography

part III|44 pages

Qualitative Versus Quantitative Method

chapter |3 pages

Postscript