University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Research in Constructivist Frameworks Using Ethnographic Techniques

Williamson, Kirsty

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/3671

Description

Title
Research in Constructivist Frameworks Using Ethnographic Techniques
Author(s)
Williamson, Kirsty
Issue Date
2006
Keyword(s)
  • Research methods
  • Ethnographic research
  • Constructivist paradigm
Abstract
This article discusses the undertaking of research using a constructivist philosophical framework and ethnographic techniques, which can include individual interviews, focus groups, observation, and questionnaires. It begins with a broad overview of social sciences research philosophy, discussing both positivism and interpretivism, before moving on to focus on the constructivist paradigm, which comes under the interpretivist umbrella. The section on ethnography follows and includes sampling, data collection techniques, and data analysis. Examples from the author’s work are used to illustrate both philosophy and method. They are from the author’s studies of the information-seeking behavior of, firstly, women with breast cancer and, secondly, online investors.
Publisher
Graduate School of Library and Information Science. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
ISSN
0024-2594
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/3671
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2006 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Owning Collections

Library Trends 55 (1) Summer 2006: Research Methods PRIMARY
Library Trends 55 (1) Summer 2006: Research Methods. Edited by Lynda M. Baker.