With the ‘ethnographic turn,’ ethnography and participant observation have become common in the social sciences outside of anthropology and ethnology. In many textbooks, doing ethnography has become listed as just another method from the social science toolbox, which can be chosen in accordance with the research aim. Its usage is thereby usually expected to follow similar rules and criteria as for other approaches regarding e.g. the identification of research participants, data collection and documentation of the research results. This presupposes that the research follows established procedures and that the researcher has a high level of control over the process.
But what if the research deals with topics taking place ‘off the books’, and the researcher finds herself amidst informal networks, contacts and practices that refuse an easy fit with the principles of proper scientific and ethical research? This session deals with some of the dilemmas faced in such settings and their implications for the research process and outcomes.
The session is led by Dr. Ilona Steiler who is currently a postdoctoral researcher at STUE. For her dissertation project in Global Development Studies, which examined the politics and governance of the urban informal economy, Ilona spent several months doing participant observation among street vendors and domestic workers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
STUE method clinics
STUE arranges a series of method clinics in Spring 2022. The aim is to discuss different research methods, share experiences, learn together, and build up skills for co-operation across disciplines. Subscribe to our e-mail list to receive the latest information.
More information:
Research coordinator Alisa Vänttinen, alisa.vanttinen@tuni.fi