Ethical ethnography as an appropriate research methodology for ANT

Abstract

The use of Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as a useful lens in helping to uncover complex issues in healthcare settings is only recently being discussed (Wickramasinghe et al., 2007a-c). However to date, these studies are mute on a suitable research methodology. Researchers entering healthcare environments are often faced with unfamiliar work patterns and may lack knowledge of the industry within which they are working. Physical immersion into the healthcare environment under investigation can be beneficial as this objective standpoint allows the researcher the opportunity to experience the dynamic feel of the situation, improving observational skills, providing valuable insights into the operations of the organisation under investigation and contributing rich and pertinent data to an academic setting. Ethnography is a research methodology well suited to such first-hand investigation. This paper will focus on ethnographic immersion and its importance to facilitating the use of ANT as a useful lens for analysis. Copyright © 2009 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.