Ethnography Lessons: A Primer

Harry Wolcott takes the reader inside the process of constructing an ethnographic study, offering a wealth of lessons from one of the masters. In this concise primer, he provides a set of models from which to organize a study, explains how to pick the various components that go into the ethnographic report, advises on how to create analogies and metaphors to help explain your work, and identifies the key features of an effective ethnography. He also discusses the role of serendipity and questions of ethics in doing ethnographic work. Learn the essentials of ethnography from one of the masters.

Harry F. Wolcott is professor emeritus of anthropology at University of Oregon and one of the leading writers on educational anthropology, qualitative research methods, and ethnographic writing. Among his best known books are The Man in the Principal's Office, Art of Fieldwork, Ethnography: A Way of Seeing, Writing Up Qualitative Research, and Sneaky Kid and Its Aftermath: Ethics and Intimacy in Fieldwork. Wolcott received the Special Career Award for dedication and contributions to qualitative research, teaching, and practice at the 2010 International Congress for Qualitative Inquiry.