Ethnography: Principles in Practice.

Ethnography: Principles in Practice The authors intended for this text to serve two different audiences: individuals experienced in the use of ethnographic research methods and individuals with little or no experience. The book is much better suited, however, to researchers who are somewhat familiar with ethnographic research methods. For example, Chapter 1, entitled "What is Ethnography," is the most difficult and most theoretical chapter. Here the authors argue that neither positivism nor naturalism provides an adequate framework for social research. They support the concept of reflexivity, or recognizing that the researcher is part of the social world studied. This means the researchers should consider how people respond to them in the field, not only as a potential source of bias, but as a source of informative data. Further development of this concept could have implications for the use of ethnographic research methods in exploring physical therapy practice.

Each of the 10 chapters in the book contains examples from the research literature in sociology and education that are used to highlight the author's major points. Chapters 2 through 9 cover each step of an ethnographic research methodology. The following topics are addressed: research design (problems, cases, and samples), access to the research site, field relations and the role of the researcher, interviewing (listening and asking questions); use of documents, recording and organizing data, analysis of data, and writing about ethnography.

The chapters on interviewing, recording and organizing data, use of documents, and data analysis are particularly good. These chapters provide the reader with critical questions to consider during these phases of research. All chapters contain extensive references to the literature for both examples of research and theory.

The text has an annotated bibliography of ethnographic texts, along with a list of references. Both of these bibliographies are excellent. The annotated bibliography gives the reader examples of the "tried and true" ethnographic texts; its only limitation is the text's 1983 publication date. Since that time many other books on ethnographic methods have been published.

The authors have succeeded in writing a clear, well-documented text. This book is an excellent additional reference for physical therapist involved in ethnographic research; it will provide a rich source of ethnographic references and pose critical questions that can be considered while in the field. I would not recommend this text, however, as a first book for the physical therapist who wishes to learn about ethnographic research methods.