TY - CHAP

T1 - The use of ethnography in social pharmacy and health services research

AU - Lau, Sofie Rosenlund

AU - Kaae, Susanne

AU - Kälvemark Sporrong, Sofia

AU - Traulsen, Janine Marie

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Ethnography has much to offer research in social pharmacy and health services yet is rarely applied. This chapter provides an overview of the principles of ethnography starting with a brief historical account of the methodology. The first part of the chapter then explains how ethnography can shed light on the social context of pharmaceuticals, thereby introducing new ways of thinking, to researchers in the health and natural sciences. This is done by digging into the epistemology of ethnography, exploring how it differs from other methodologies (qualitative and quantitative), and how it builds on the core principles of constructivism and reflexivity. The second part of the chapter is concerned with how to conduct an ethnographic study, focusing on participant observation and fieldwork. Ethnography literally means “writing about people”; therefore, an entire section is devoted to various ways of writing up ethnographic data, from thick descriptions and field notes to social theory and analysis. Finally, there is a section on ethics, followed by advice on how to move forward with an ethnographic project. The chapter ends with some reflective questions and application exercises for designing an ethnographic study and training observation skills.

AB - Ethnography has much to offer research in social pharmacy and health services yet is rarely applied. This chapter provides an overview of the principles of ethnography starting with a brief historical account of the methodology. The first part of the chapter then explains how ethnography can shed light on the social context of pharmaceuticals, thereby introducing new ways of thinking, to researchers in the health and natural sciences. This is done by digging into the epistemology of ethnography, exploring how it differs from other methodologies (qualitative and quantitative), and how it builds on the core principles of constructivism and reflexivity. The second part of the chapter is concerned with how to conduct an ethnographic study, focusing on participant observation and fieldwork. Ethnography literally means “writing about people”; therefore, an entire section is devoted to various ways of writing up ethnographic data, from thick descriptions and field notes to social theory and analysis. Finally, there is a section on ethics, followed by advice on how to move forward with an ethnographic project. The chapter ends with some reflective questions and application exercises for designing an ethnographic study and training observation skills.

U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-323-91888-6.00034-X

DO - 10.1016/B978-0-323-91888-6.00034-X

M3 - Book chapter

SN - 978-0-323-91888-6

SP - 329

EP - 344

BT - Contemporary Research Methods in Pharmacy and Health Services

PB - Elsevier

ER -