Becoming the City: Teaching Urban Ethnography and Mentoring Urban Ethnographers

Abstract

We examine what makes urban ethnography unique as a sociological subfield and how to convey this method to aspiring urban ethnographers. As a qualitative research approach, methodological sensibilities about observing, sampling, and data analysis cross boundaries and transcend the urban setting. We suggest a short observational exercise of checking out in a grocery store to stimulate the ethnographic imagination. Next, we turn to three ways to cultivate an ethnographic eye toward the urban: walking the city, paying attention to interactions and institutions, and examining communities and networks. We end with an appeal to engaging with a community of inquiry.

Citation

Timmermans, S. and Prickett, P.J. (2019), "Becoming the City: Teaching Urban Ethnography and Mentoring Urban Ethnographers", Urban Ethnography (Research in Urban Sociology, Vol. 16), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 53-68. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1047-004220190000016006