Research Articles (English)

'We thought you were undercover, here to inspect us' – Some of the Challenges of Ethnographic Fieldwork in Schools

Authors: Gary Beauchamp (Wales Journal of Education) , Kieran Hodgkin (Wales Journal of Education) , Scott Fleming (Wales Journal of Education) , Anna Bryant (Wales Journal of Education)

  • 'We thought you were undercover, here to inspect us' – Some of the Challenges of Ethnographic Fieldwork in Schools

    Research Articles (English)

    'We thought you were undercover, here to inspect us' – Some of the Challenges of Ethnographic Fieldwork in Schools

    Authors: , , ,

Abstract

This paper provides an insight into the challenges associated with conducting ethnographic fieldwork in a primary school and a secondary school in south Wales. Drawing on personal reflections and experiences, it provides an account of the lessons learnt. Themes include gaining access, role selection, establishing trust, developing relationships and role conflict. More specifically, the differences associated with conducting research in a primary and secondary school are identified, whilst highlighting the fragile nature of pupil-centred research.

How to Cite:

Beauchamp, G., Hodgkin, K., Fleming, S. & Bryant, A., (2016) “'We thought you were undercover, here to inspect us' – Some of the Challenges of Ethnographic Fieldwork in Schools”, Wales Journal of Education 18(2), 105-119. doi: https://doi.org/10.16922/wje.18.2.8

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Published on
01 Nov 2016
Peer Reviewed