Reflexivity, the ‘ethnographic vignette’ and the (rehabilitation of the?) research interview

Abstract

This presentation will explore ways in which approaches from LE have informed the analysis and integration of different forms of data collected during an ethnographic study examining the practice of intensive care nurses. Within this research environment it was not possible to obtain the audio or video recordings of naturally occurring interaction that is typical of LE approaches. The research has therefore drawn upon ethnographic field notes and audio recorded research interviews as the primary forms of data. This presentation will focus on how linguistic approaches have informed the analysis and integration of these forms of data. The presentation will briefly explore three interrelated problems / challenges in approaching these data from a linguistic perspective. The first of these is to examine the need for, and implications of, adopting a highly reflexive stance in analysing data which reflects or incorporates the subjective impressions of the observer / researcher. Secondly, data extracts will be presented and discussed in order to analyse the degree to which ‘micro’ linguistic approaches may inform the analysis of ethnographic field notes where those notes record the close observation of interpersonal interaction in a clinical context. Thirdly, the status of the ethnographic interview will be examined in order to explore how discourse elicited within an interview context may inform the analysis of naturally occurring interaction. The issues arising from these three issues come together to advance an argument that the perspective of linguistic ethnography may legitimately inform the analysis of the ‘ethnographic vignette’, and to offer insights into the role of the research interview within LE work.