Diffractive Ethnography

Diffractive ethnography is a way for social scientists to think about and think with the ontological turn in their research, looking at the intersections of ethnography and the natural environment. It asks key questions in research when researchers are working in the world of the 'non-human'.

Jessica Smartt Gullion, PhD, is Associate Professor of Sociology at Texas Woman's University, where she teaches courses in research methods and medical and environmental sociology. Her research focuses on qualitative methodology as a tool for social justice.

Acknowledgements Introduction Part I: Engaging the Ontological Turn Chapter 1. A Turn from What? Chapter 2. An Overview of Vibrant Materialism Chapter 3. Paradigm Changes Part II: Methodological Contradictions in Social Science Inquiry Chapter 4. Objectivity in Research Chapter 5. Instruments of Measurement Chapter 6. Beyond Cause and Effect Chapter 7. Zombie Categories Chapter 8. Data Chapter 9. The Crisis of Representation Chapter 10. Reflexivity and Its Discontents Part III: Diffractive Ethnography Chapter 11. A Brief Overview of Ethnography Chapter 12. Thinking with Theory Chapter 13. Assemblages and Entanglements Chapter 14. Diffraction Chapter 15. The Liveliness of Matter Part IV: Becoming Chapter 16. Healing the Nature/Culture Divide Chapter 17. The Ethics of Entanglements References Index