Ethnographic Methods at Work

Ethnographic Methods at
Work introduces students to sociological and anthropological perspectives as they examine workplace dynamics, consider their own relationship to work, and record real accounts of working from people across career sectors. The course approaches work as a cultural system invested with meanings, norms, values, customs, behavioral expectations, and social hierarchies. Guided by the ethnographer's assumption that there's "always more than meets the eye," students are encouraged to uncover myths and stereotypes about the work world and gain appreciation of how and why work matters to individuals in a range of occupations. Introductory training is provided in a range of qualitative methods, including autoethnography, interviewing, and observation, underpinning real-world fieldwork that explores disruption, uncertainty, innovation, and diversity in the workplace. Students also draw connections between self and work by engaging with social science research presented in a variety of media, including readings, films, and podcasts, locating their ethnographic findings among these existing portraits of work.