PSA ParliamentsBy Michael Smethurst and Ben Worthy
We’re the data and search team in the Parliamentary Digital Service. We’re currently working on:
This is easy to write but difficult to do. Mainly because it’s complicated.
By Emma Crewe
Ethnography is a methodological and theoretical approach to studying social worlds. Doing ethnography does not require particular research techniques but is a process of prolonged engagement with a group of people to find out how they act, think, talk and relate to each other. Ethnographers’ understanding of subjectivity is distinct from positivistic approaches; rather than attempting to remove their influence on the research findings, they make this part of their research. Such reflexivity entails turning back on oneself, reflecting on how you are thinking and on how the social interaction between ethnographer and informant impacts on perception and interpretation.
On 25 June, the specialist group (SG) held a research workshop on research methods for doctoral research students and early career academics, which provided a rich source of information and sharing of ideas between attendees.
The PSA Specialist Group on Parliaments and Legislatures is planning a one day workshop focusing on research methods in legislative studies for PhD students who are members of the group.