The limits of ethnography: combining social sciences for CSCW

ABSTRACT

This paper addresses some of the divergences between social sciences, and proposes the development of hybrid forms of participation in CSCW. It offers a critique of the theoretical isolationism of some ethnomethodological ethnography. It reviews the prospects for interdisciplinary collaboration, and seeks to motivate it with some “core propositions” which expose the inescapable character of the problems (although not necessarily of the solutions) which are “owned” by different disciplines. It illustrates hybrid forms with discussion of some issues in two areas: the cognitive versus the ethnographic; it further describes the politics of participation.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  J. Computer Applications

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)

General Terms:
Human Factors, Theory

Keywords:
CSCW, cognitive science, distributed cognition, ethnography, ethnomethodology, interdisciplinary relations, participative design