Atkinson-Morriss2016

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Atkinson-Morriss2016
BibType ARTICLE
Key Atkinson-Morriss2016
Author(s) Paul Atkinson, Lisa Morriss
Title On ethnographic knowledge
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Unique adequacy requirement, Ethnomethodology, ethnography, ethnographies, methodologies, qualitative research and education, qualitative research, training, evaluating and extending qualitative methods, decolonizing the academy, pedagogy
Publisher
Year 2016
Language English
City
Month
Journal Qualitative Inquiry
Volume 23
Number 5
Pages 323–331
URL Link
DOI 10.1177/1077800416655825
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

We discuss the kinds and degrees of competence that the ethnographer needs to acquire. We consider the “unique adequacy” postulate, proposed by ethnomethodologists, that suggests that in the study of esoteric or specialized domains, the researcher needs to acquire or have previously acquired competence themselves. We suggest that this deserves more critical and nuanced scrutiny, not least given the impossibility of having prior competence in all aspects of a complex organization or activity. We also suggest that we need a more delicate appreciation of types of competence and, hence, of ethnographic knowledge. There is no single prescription, but a more thorough appreciation of the sociology of knowledge will inform ethnographic practice and methodological commentary.

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