Ethnography Essentials - 2nd Edition by Julian M Murchison (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A step-by-step, hands-on guide to the theory and practice of ethnography research

In the newly revised second edition of Ethnography Essentials: Designing, Conducting, and Presenting Your Research, author Julian M. Murchison delivers a comprehensive, hands-on guide to ethnographic research. The book walks you through the process from start to finish, from choosing a topic to selecting a research design, conducting data collection, analysis, and paper writing.

Murchison explains the principles and methods of the discipline, focusing on written ethnography while also including other methods of presentation, like ethnographic film. He describes the history and purpose of ethnography and the nuts and bolts of conducting a valuable ethnographic study.

Inside the book:

• Specific, step-by-step advice on compiling your data, incorporating relevant literature, figures, and photos, and responding to critiques
• Techniques for collecting, sorting, and managing large amounts of data
• Interviewing strategies for ethnographic researchers that explain how to balance participation and observation

Perfect for practicing ethnographers, Ethnography Essentials is also a must read for students in the field and anyone new to ethnography research.

From the Back Cover

A detailed roadmap to the theory and practice of ethnography research, updated and revised

Ethnography Essentials: Designing, Conducting, and Presenting Your Research, Second Edition delivers a comprehensive, step-by-step guide through every phase of ethnographic research. Drawing on over fifteen years of fieldwork experience, author Julian M. Murchison equips you with practical tools and contemporary methods you need to conduct meaningful research that captures culture in action.

This updated edition addresses the evolving landscape of ethnography with a new chapter on collaborative research approaches and expanded coverage of virtual ethnography and technological tools. You'll learn essential techniques for participant-observation, interviewing, data collection and analysis, creating ethnographic maps and charts, and presenting your findings. The book guides you through balancing participation with observation, coding and sorting data, building analytical models, and choosing appropriate presentation styles that match your audience and subject matter.

Readers will find:

• Specific, granular guidance for data compilation, literature review, research presentation techniques, and responding to critiques
• Data collection, sorting, and management techniques, including strategies for working with unusually large datasets
• Strategies for ethnographic researches that explain how to balance participation and observation and best utilize interviews

A must-read resource for all practicing ethnographers, Ethnography Essentials is also perfect for students new to the field seeking a detailed guide to produce compelling ethnographic work.

About the Author

JULIAN M. MURCHISON is Associate Professor of Anthropology and Head of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. His research is focused on religion and health in southern Tanzania, where he has conducted studies for more than twenty-five years.