Ethnography considered harmful

Abstract

We review the current status of ethnography in systems design. We focus particularly on new approaches to and understandings of ethnography that have emerged as the computer has moved out of the workplace. These seek to implement a different order of ethnographic study to that which has largely been employed in design to date. In doing so they reconfigure the relationship ethnography has to systems design, replacing detailed empirical studies of situated action with studies that provide cultural interpretations of action and critiques of the design process itself. We hold these new approaches to and understandings of ethnography in design up to scrutiny, with the purpose of enabling designers to appreciate the differences between new and existing approaches to ethnography in systems design and the practical implications this might have for design.

Undisciplined disciples: everything you always wanted to know about ethnomethodology but were afraid to ask Yoda

“…[41] pp [10][11][12][13] As with our historical overview, it is necessary to emphasise that this section should not be regarded as a comprehensive introduction to the field of ethnomethodology-that would require a far longer paper! In particular, although we have drawn primarily on work by Suchman for its clarity and relevance to our topic, we do not wish to suggest that hers was the only channel by which ethnomethodology influenced HCI or EuroPARC.…”

“…The polemical CHI publication ''Ethnography Considered Harmful'' [12], like Garfinkel's own polemics in the 1970s, views marginalisation as resulting from a lack of discipline on the part of all other social science. Ethnomethodology sets a strict agenda separating it from mainstream social science, aiming for a rigorously descriptive programme rather than a theoretical or explanatory one.…”

“…The CHI 2009 conference later featured a paper and panel discussion that harked back to this encounter between social science and design, with the provocative title ''Ethnography considered Harmful'' [12]. That combative claim was an appeal for the increasingly widespread practice of design ethnography to be replaced by ''ethnomethodologically informed ethnography''.…”

Cognition, technology, and work: special issue on cognitive ergonomics for designing collaborative activities

“…''The digital, like a host of technologies before it, is permeating society at large. The contemporary challenge for design is to better understand how the computer in all its forms may be developed to support activities in a broad range of nonwork settings'' (Crabtree et al 2009). Every environment has its specificities.…”

HCI and innovation

“…Its greatest contribution may be to provide a better conceptual or theoretical understanding of how technology is used in a particular domain. This situation is further complicated when considering different types of ethnographies and analyses, each of which may deliver different kinds of insight for design [6].…”