Ethnographic Fieldwork

Abstract

The aim of the chapter is to introduce the readers to ethnographic fieldwork including participant observation and ethnographic interviews. Ethnographic fieldwork is a robust research methodology to study patients' experiences and perspectives and, therefore, particularly valuable for HTA. Furthermore, it leads to important insights that are relevant to patient involvement in HTA. The chapter is divided into five sections. In the first section, we briefly introduce ethnographic research in relation to patient involvement in HTA. In the following three sections, we focus first on fieldwork , then on participant observation and then on ethnographic interviewing. In the next two sections, we address field notes as an important research activity in ethno-graphic fieldwork and consider analytical work. We close the chapter discussing what we consider to be important dimensions of knowledge production. First, we invite critical reflection on the notion of patient involvement and the increasing popularisation of ethnographic and qualitative methodology. Then we briefly address ethnography in familiar settings, and finally we discuss the importance of transparency and reflexivity in knowledge production.