Organizational Ethnographic Research: Intersections of Place, Cultural Identities, Constructed Memories, and Sense Making Within Institutions

Abstract

In the article, the author presents a discussion on the value of incorporating institutional ethnographic studies in a researcher's repertoire. Researchers who conduct institutional ethnographies provide critical cultural examinations of organizations, companies, schools, or other establishments that give insights into the values, mores, and belief systems that may not be apparent at first glance. Gavin draws upon her experience as an ethnographer to explain her approach to institutional ethnography and the benefits she has gleaned from such research. Those qualitative researchers who are considering new research venues to explore may find institutional ethnography to be a challenging yet fruitful area.