Routledge Revivals: What's Wrong With Ethnography? (1992)
Methodological Explorations
Routledge Revivals Series

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.

List of Figures Acknowledgements Introduction Part I: Ethnography, Theory and Reality 1. What’s Wrong with Ethnography? The Myth of Theoretical Description 2. Some Questions About Theory in Ethnography and History 3. Ethnography and Realism 4. By What Criteria Should Ethnographic Research Be Judged Part II: Ethnography, Relevance and Practice 5. The Generalisability of Ethnography 6. Critical Theory as a Model for Ethnography 7. Parts That Even Ethnography Cannot Reach: Some Reflections on the Relationship Between Research and Policy 8. On Practitioner Ethnography Part III: Qualitative Versus Quantitative Method 9. Deconstructing the Qualitative-Quantitative Divide 10. The Logic of Theory Testing in Case Study Research 11. So, What are Case Studies Postscript Bibliography Name Index Subject Index