[Air-L] virtual ethnography

Carmel L. Vaisman carmelv at gmail.com
Wed Feb 4 13:07:52 PST 2009


Hi Dan and everyone else in this discussion.

 

- Has anyone read any good writing on the practicalities of doing online participant observation specifically with respect to the writing of fieldnotes following sessions?


I'm writing a something like that but since I'm writing my doctoral dissertation in Hebrew it might take a year before i publish it in English. I'm both a Communication researcher and an active (what you'd call A-List) blogger in Israel.  My methodology chapter deals with my blog as both a field journal and a form of presence in the field.

 

I agree with the fact people use ethnography loosely these days. Personally, I'm very suspicious towards non-participant observer ethnographies. In order to write a culture you must practice it yourself. There are so many specific practices that elude the eye if you're not really part of the field. You can watch all you want but never have access to key elements of an online subculture. I feel that only a long term participant observation with emphasis on the participation part, gives me the confidence and authority to write the culture.

 



Carmel Vaisman,

PhD Candidate,

Communication Department

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.





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