A PhD in Practice Methodologies, methods and socialisation

1. A PhD in PracticeMethodologies, methods andsocialisation Ian Martin Society and Information Research Group

2. MSc: Long hours work and stress for IT professionals PhD: Making space for computers in the business of banking historical ethnographic Paradigms and methodologies Positivist Interpretivist - objective reality - quantitative data [?] - test hypotheses - sample - social construct - qualitative data [?] - generate theory - setting

3. Ethnography • Anthropology and ‘other’ cultures • going native • the part-time researcher • Methodology and literature review chapter • justification for methodology • methods • participant observation • qualitative semi-structured interviews • In IS research: practice ‘turn’ circa 2001 • mainstream credibility • know your discipline

4. The ‘historical method’ • If ‘the past is a foreign country’ (Hartley, 1953) • then ethnography and the practice of history are closely related • Historical method • primary sources • usually tacit but convention is to evidence in footnotes • oral histories, visual culture • draws on other disciplines e.g. sociology • Objectivity and bias • a spectrum of views • History of technology - my don’ts • internalism | technological determinism | presentism | teleology | Whigishness • know your discipline / local conventions

5. Structuration theory and social practice • Structure is both the medium and the outcome of practice • Giddens (1984) • Theory used as a ‘sensitising device’ and a framework for organising empirical work • Socialised introduction to the theory • Mentor and writing a joint paper • Weekly PhD seminars and reading groups • Inspiring article: ‘The chauffer problem’ (Borg, 1999) • Fashion • ‘It’s a bit naff’ • Remember the social