Creating Autoethnographies - Softcover

Autoethnography, like all research genres, is a contested term with diverse connotations. Muncey offers clarity of understanding of the term, its evolution as a facet of anthropological research, and some of the key influences in postmodernist thought that have helped to widen its application in psychological and sociological disciplines.
David McCormack
British Journal of Guidance and Counselling

Creating Autoethnographies is an introduction to autoethnography, a form of autobiographical personal narrative that explores the writer's experience of life. The first ever practical text on this increasingly popular research method, it provides a background and considers some of the criticisms of the approach. It is suitable for all social science students, both at postgraduate and also upper level undergraduate stage.

The book is structured to mirror the process of writing about experience, from establishing an idea through to the process of writing and the development of creative writing skills, and provides detailed worked examples of the whole process. The final two chapters are devoted to exploring two cases in which readers can see the principles discussed in action. There are also a wide range of case studies drawn from a wide a range of social science disciplines and exercises throughout the text.

In the book, Tessa Muncey identifies a number of trends in social science research, such as the increasing focus on the individual and giving a voice to service users, that are resulting in an increase of interest in narrative research. Creating Autoethnographies is a timely contribution to the field.

Tessa Muncey is one of the leading names in this field and is the annual organiser and chair of the Mixed Methods Conference.