Ethnography's Ghosts: Spectres, Archives, Ancestors

With contributions from experienced scholars in sociology and anthropology, Ethnography's Ghosts illuminates and interrogates the 'ghosts' of past ethnographic fieldwork - whether revisited in practice or in the imagination. This book captures the remnants of past ideas, people, and legacies that shape current practices, highlighting how fieldnotes transform into precious archives that both anchor and haunt researchers. By revisiting these notes, scholars experience a blend of nostalgia and revelation, freeing themselves from the pressures of immediate research demands and gaining new insights. The volume also addresses the ethical complexities of dealing with both personal and others' ghosts, offering a nuanced look at how past experiences continue to influence present scholarship. This book makes an important intervention in discussions amongst sociologists, anthropologists, and other social scientists engaged in or reflecting on ethnographic research.

About the Author

Emilie Morwenna Whitaker is a Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences at the University of Salford, where she is also Director for Postgraduate Research. She has undertaken and led ethnographic fieldwork in health, social work, and welfare settings.

Paul Atkinson is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Cardiff University, where he served as Pro Vice-Chancellor. His recent publications include the last two books in his Ethnography quartet, Writing Ethnographically (2020) and Crafting Ethnography (2022). He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and of the Learned Society of Wales.