Describes a partially ethnographic study of written discourse based on texts produced on three floors of an academic building, each containing a different academic community. It is proposed that such an approach can be used to study text-community associations, explore inhabitants' textual careers, piece together group-specific sets and systems of…

Reflects on school practitioners providing their own accounts of educational practice. Describes conditions necessary for school practitioners to engage in transformative learning through a process of inquiry, and discusses how the women principals' writing group illustrates the practical application of these conditions. (MMU)

Describes a study that used an ethnographic approach with a dramaturgy strategy to examine Chinese higher education students' interactions and perceptions of social presence in online learning environments. Results indicate that social presence, including social context, online communication, and interactivity, affected Chinese students'…

Explores how shaming rituals and shame responses define the pedagogical scene portrayed in William Coles, Jr.'s novelistic account of a semester-long freshman English writing course, "The Plural I--and After." Argues that this novel does not fully embrace the vexing trope of the hero quest present in most other ethnographic research on composition…

Reviews Jessor, Colby, and Shweder's "Ethnography and Human Development: Context and Meaning in Social Inquiry." Maintains that the book invites reflection on the appropriate epistemology of contemporary social sciences, and significantly advances the integration of ethnography and developmental psychology research. Argues that concerns…

Discusses key issues that emerged when the cultural interests of African-American youth were brought into the curriculum of two urban schools. Argues that teachers can benefit by taking an ethnographer's stance in engaging students. Discusses the cultural resistance shown by some students, as well as the instances of cultural competence shown by…

Reacts to an article by Ilieva (2001), "Living with Ambiguity: Toward Culture Exploration in Adult Second-Language Classrooms." The article argues for the importance of students' in taking ownership of their experiences in the mainstream culture. Expands on two issues touched on the first article: what is involved in student ethnography and the…

Offers a rejoinder to a response written about a previous article, "Living with Ambiguity: Toward Culture Exploration in Adult Second-Language Classrooms." Suggests the response offers a useful contribution to a much-needed conversation on how to attend to culture in adult second language classrooms at a time of the reconceptualization of the…

Presents an ethnographic model of art therapy results. The model requires the researcher to approach informants who are in art therapy as an anthropologist entering another culture. Describes basic principles of the ethnographic model. Introduces the concept of disability culture and concludes with recommendations for art therapists wishing to use…

Examines the way in which immigrant English-as-a-Second-Language learners in the United States identities are created through their educational settings as they participate in high schools and then college. Discusses case studies from a 3-year ethnographic study that followed learners from high school to college ESL classes, documenting evidence…

A microethnographic study examined the language functions and cultural traits of Mexican American children during sociodramatic play in a bilingual preschool classroom. Findings showed that children learn how to use social language by having the opportunity to practice it freely but with guidance. Suggestions were devised for evaluating children's…

The three books reviewed continue the time-honored tradition of observing life in schools. Each book offers a different perspective on this topic and provides stimulating ideas about how collaboration between school personnel and academic researchers can be accomplished. Each also raises questions about the meaning of doing ethnographic research.…

An ethnographic study of the attitudes of teachers, headteachers, and home/school liaison workers toward school-parent relationships in Britain showed that, despite desire for closer and mutually supportive relationships, psychological and government policy barriers often prevented their development. (SK)

Addresses an issue relevant to social science research: how to adjust conceptual orientations and methodological priorities to take into account apparently changing human experiences and priorities. Focuses on three confusing situations that confront ethnographers (the meaning of culture, the enthusiasm for ethnography, and the responsibility of…

Coded data from 108 organizational ethnographies identified the determinants of management citizenship behavior (MCB). Unstable product markets but product competition increases it. MCB reduces conflict between employees and managers and has a strong positive effect on organizational citizenship behavior. (Contains 93 references.) (SK)