Interrogating Ethnography: Why Evidence Matters

by Steven Lubet

In this comprehensive review of urban ethnography, Steven Lubet encountered a field that relies heavily on anonymous sources, often as reported by a single investigator whose underlying data remain unseen. Upon digging into the details, he discovered too many ethnographic assertions that were dubious, exaggerated, tendentious, or just plain wrong. Employing the tools and techniques of a trial lawyer, Lubet uses original sources and contemporaneous documentation to explore the stories behind ethnographic narratives. Many turn out to be accurate, but others are revealed to be based on rumors, folklore, and unreliable hearsay.

Interrogating Ethnography explains how qualitative social science would benefit from greater attention to the quality of evidence, and provides recommendations for bringing the field more closely in line with other fact-based disciplines such as law and journalism.

211 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2017

Reviews

[Jennifer J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lubet thinks "ethnography" means "studies of deepky impoverished communities of color written about by sociologists affiliated with the university of Chicago. The whole book is an accidental straw man argument based on his own naivete about how qualitative research works. Academic carpetbagging at its finest.

[Philip Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very positive about this book. I discussed it on my blog here: https://familyinequality.wordpress.co...

[Dirk · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lubet gets the wrong end of the stick. Comparing the work of ethnographers with that of lawyers presenting evidence in court is entirely wrong. While the former strive to obtain an understanding of a field - an organisation, a community et al - the latter look for evidence to prove or disprove the guilt of an accused. The nature of evidence in these two cases that form the basis for Lubet’s argument is completely different.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not perfect (pretty light on human subjects protections, IRB) but lots of food for thought on the importance of precise language and presentation of evidence. Well-written.