Theme Introduction and Learning objectives

The term ethnography derives from the Greek word’s ethnos, ‘people,’ and grapho, ‘writing.’ It is a type of social research or enquiry that usually involves examining, and later carefully describing, a field, a phenomenon, an issue etc., from the participants’ perspective. Sustained participant observation in the lifeworld’s of participants is a typical method in ethnography. As social workers are neither anthropologists nor ethnographers (among other things because social workers do not only describe and analyze, but also act), we use the term applied ethnography to underline that we are talking about a specific approach and mode of being in social work.

In this course you will gain knowledge, insights, and skills on:

• What the central features of applied ethnography are
• How tools from ethnography can be applied in social work practice
• How applied ethnography can foster self-reflective writing
• How you can use applied ethnography to reflect on your day-to-day practice and see familiar issues in a new light