Chapter published in:
Ethnographies of Academic Writing Research: Theory, methods, and interpretation
Edited by Ignacio Guillén-Galve and Ana Bocanegra-Valle
[Research Methods in Applied Linguistics 1] 2021
► pp. 1–20

Chapter 1
Methodological reflections on and participatory episodes of ethnographic academic writing research

| University of Cadiz
| University of Zaragoza
This chapter presents the current state of ethnographic research as applied to academic writing. First, we articulate the significance of ethnography as a methodological approach for the study of writing in academic settings. Next, we provide a critical exploration of the current state of research in terms of key methodological issues which feature prominently in ethnographically-oriented academic writing studies: thick description, deep theorizing, methodological alignment with ethnography, participatory research, research reflexivity, and ethics and trustworthiness. In the final two sections, we give an overview of the volume and showcase its contribution to existing disciplinary and methodological debates.
Keywords: academic writing, ethics, ethnography, reflexivity, thick description
Article outline
  • An introduction to ethnography and academic writing research
  • Key methodological issues in ethnographically-oriented academic writing research
    • Situating the book in relevant scholarship
    • Thick description and deep theorizing
    • Methodological alignment with ethnography
    • Participatory research and researcher reflexivity
    • Ethics and trustworthiness
  • Organisation of the book and chapter summaries
  • Contribution of the book to current methodological debates
    • Thick description, thick participation, and deep theorizing
    • Participatory research and researcher reflexivity
    • Ethics and trustworthiness
  • The book in a nutshell
  • References
Published online: 26 October 2021
https://doi.org/10.1075/rmal.1.01boc
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