Ethnography: participatory approaches and the role of the researcher

Ethnographers study the lived experiences, daily activities, and social/political context of everyday life from the perspectives of those being studied and typically the researcher immerses herself in the natural setting for long periods of time to gain a deeper understanding of people’s lives (Buch and Staller 2014).
This presentation draws on the researcher’s experiences from a wider piece of research carried out in a hospice, in which the potentially sensitive and complex areas of workplace learning and the nature of relationships between paid and volunteers in a professional workplace are explored. The ethos and values underpinning the project resonate with the researcher’s personal value position whereby the research process is collaborative and emancipatory, providing an opportunity for shared participation between researcher and participants.The presentation will consider the challenges and opportunities afforded by this methodology and specifically using participatory methods and reflexivity in ethnographical studies. The session will be relevant to anyone interested in ethnography or participatory research methods.