Annette Markham

An ethnography is an ethnography is an ethnography?

Absract

Research purpose, methodological approach and ethics are tightly interwoven threads in any given study. I will focus on the importance of addressing the entire context-driven fabric of qualitative research design and execution. The internet provides a multifaceted arena for diverse social interaction, deceptively easy access to data, and endless ³public² discourse to study. As we turn to ethnography to study these cultural phenomena it is vital that we match our methodological approaches to our research questions, engage in rigorous qualitative analysis, and maintain high standards for ethical interpretations. To accomplish these goals, researchers must be able to identify and appropriately utilize the particular interpretive method that best fits the research purpose and context.