Challenges and benefits of combining textual analysis and ethnographic methods to explore educational contexts, texts, and practices

Sizer, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2750-6728 (2025) Challenges and benefits of combining textual analysis and ethnographic methods to explore educational contexts, texts, and practices. In: Sage Research Methods: Data and Research Literacy. Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN 9781036221812 doi: 10.4135/9781036221812

Abstract/Summary

This case study is based on original research adopting a textographic research approach. Textography combines both textual analysis and ethnography to investigate the texts, context, and practices of a specific discourse community. Textography can include ethnographic methods including but not limited to observations, documentary evidence, and/or interviews. Textography can also include texts including but not limited to contextual texts featured in the linguistic landscape, accessible texts in the virtual and physical context, or widely available texts, e.g., textbooks and journal articles; historical texts from local or public archives; routine writing, such as correspondence or diaries; and even student assessments, such as essays and presentations. Before embarking on textography, researchers must reflect upon microethical considerations, such as trustworthiness and researcher positionality; macroethical considerations, such as ethical approval and context access; and practical considerations, such as data collection, i.e., textual and ethnographic data. Textography has been used in mainly educational contexts but can be used in a variety of contexts to explore potential collaboration, support, and/or membership of another community.

Item Type	Book or Report Section
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/123351
Identification Number/DOI	10.4135/9781036221812
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > Global Academy
Uncontrolled Keywords	discourse, students, language, knowledge, higher education, photography, credibility, cultural industries, creative industries, linguistics
Publisher	Sage Publications Ltd
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