To read this content please select one of the options below:

“Rapid” but not “raid”: A reflection on the use of rapid ethnography in entrepreneurship research

Nadeera Ranabahu (University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia)

Qualitative Research Journal

ISSN: 1443-9883

Article publication date: 13 November 2017

351

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain how rapid ethnography (RE) is used to understand the business decision-making process of micro-entrepreneurs. The objective of this paper is to highlight the applicability of RE in entrepreneurship research and outline practical strategies that can be used by future RE researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is written as a reflection using the author’s experience in using RE.

Findings

This paper highlights that RE can be used as a research technique in entrepreneurship research. The study shows how to incorporate technological advances into RE without violating the underlying ethnographic principles. The paper also explains how preparation, planning, technology-assisted techniques, non-traditional socialisation processes, and multiple and parallel data collection strategies enhance the effectiveness of RE. The paper outlines practical strategies for researchers such as collaborations, using field guides, clear schedules and time gaps in the data collection.

Originality/value

Although RE is widely used in research related to human-computer interactions, medicine, education and marketing, RE in entrepreneurship research seems to be limited. Thus, this paper explores this gap and contributes to the scholarly field of entrepreneurship research by highlighting the methodological potential of RE. In addition, the paper contributes empirically to the qualitative research domain by explaining practical steps in using RE.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the data collected organisation, its staff and clients in Sri Lanka for granting permission for the study. The author acknowledges the comments and support of Professor Mary Barrett and Associate Professor Lee Moerman in this research, the learning and development support of Doctor Celeste Rossetto, and comments provided by anonymous reviewers. This research is also supported by IPTA and UPA scholarships of University of Wollongong.

Citation

Ranabahu, N. (2017), "“Rapid” but not “raid”: A reflection on the use of rapid ethnography in entrepreneurship research", Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. 17 No. 4, pp. 254-264. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-12-2015-0098

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles