Leaving the field: Methodological insights from ethnographic exits [Hardcover]

Leaving the fieldgathers various accounts of ethnographers leaving their field sites. In doing so, the book offers original insights into an often-overlooked aspect of the research process; the ethnographic exit. The chapters variously consider situations in which the researcher must extricate themselves from field relations, deal with unexpected or imperfect ends to projects, or manage situations in which the field becomes hard to leave. Whilst the chapters are firmly focussed on ethnographic exits, they also provide more general methodological insights into the conduct of fieldwork and the writing of ethnography, as well as questioning established notions of the field as a bounded setting the researcher straightforwardly visits and then leaves. The book highlights the importance of recognising ethnographic exits as an essential part of the research process.GBThrough accounts of ethnographers various exits from the field, this book draws attention to an overlooked but essential part of the research process, and contributes to more general discussions of ethnography.

Robin James Smith is Reader in Sociology at Cardiff University

Sara Delamont is Emerita Reader in the School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University

This collection gathers a diverse range of tales from ethnographers experiences of leaving the field in order to generate original methodological insights about fieldwork and the field more generally. Whilst much has been written on field access and field relations, the actual processes and practices of exiting have been relatively neglected. This book addresses that oversight.

InLeaving the field, ethnographers at different career stages reflect upon field exits that were variously good and bad, total and incomplete, planned and unexpected. These accounts are intended to provide guidance for other fieldworkers and contribute to broader methodological discussions relating to the doing and writing of ethnographyl#%