Designing & Conducting Ethnographic Research ─ An Introduction

"Margaret D. LeCompte and Jean J. Schensul's The Ethnographer's toolkit is a classic methods texts in applied anthropology. The authors combine highly accessible writing, extremely pertinent examples, and a grounded approach to social inquiry that is both creative and versatile. This text is highly recommended for both graduate and undergraduate students in anthropology and related disciplines."-Susan Greenbaum, University of South Florida

"This is an excellent book. It is comprehensive, balanced, and thoughtfully written, with frequent examples from a range of disciplines that bring to life. The many definitions and cross-references are quite helpful. It includes the best description of various research paradigms, epistemologies, and designs I have seen."-Janette Klinger, University of Colorado, Boulder

"With accessible language, relevant examples, and easy-to-adapt checklists and models, this remarkable introduction to the second edition of The Ethnographer's Toolkit will become a favorite among researchers of all levels and across disciplines. This book provides incomparable insight on an array of research paradigms and topics, resulting in a great resource for those interested in community and institutional ethnographic research. as well as those looking to increase community participation and more democratic knowledge production."-Federico Cintron-Moscoso. University of South Florida

The Ethnographer's Toolkit series begins with this primer that introduces novice and expert practitioners alike to the process of ethnographic research, including who should and can do ethnography, when it is used most fruitfully, and how research projects are carried our, from conceptualization through the uses of research results. Written in practical, straightforward language, this new edition defines the qualitative research enterprise, links research strategies to theoretical paradigms, and outlines the ways in which an ethnographic study can be designed. Use Designing & Conducting Ethnographic Research as a guide to the entire Toolkit or as a stand-alone introduction to ethnographic research.

Margaret D. LeCompte is professor of education and sociology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Jean J. Schensul is senior scientist at and founding director of the Institute for Community Research, adjunct professor of anthropology at the University of Connecticut, and research affiliate at Yale.