Considering "Objective" Possibilities in Autoethnography: A Critique of Heewon Chang’s Autoethnography as Method1

Authors

Sue Butler, Barry University

Abstract

Autoethnography is a qualitative research methodology that emphasizes a more personal, almost intimate level of study. It renders the researcher-participant opportunities to explore past and present experiences while gaining self-awareness of his or her interactions and their socio-cultural effects. In the book Autoethnography as Method Heewon Chang presents this research methodology in an easy to follow text and illustration, while advocating an objective approach to data collection and analysis. However, Chang’s theoretical positions seem to shift back and forth between this objective point-of-view and a subjective perspective throughout the text causing ambiguity and contradiction of ideas and approaches.

Keywords

Qualitative Research, Autoethnography, Autoethnographic Research, Self-reflexivity, Self-observational, Autoethnographic Data

Author Bio(s)

Sue Butler is a marriage and family therapist who works as an in-home therapist for a non-profit agency in Broward County. She is a doctoral student at Barry University and is currently completing her internship hours at the Maureen Duffy Family Center, and at the STEPS adolescent outpatient program at Memorial Regional Hospital. Butler’s research interest include, effects of group therapy in teens with dual diagnosis, teens and parents relationships and ways to strengthen through the use of electronic devices, i.e., phone texting, iPods’, Instant messaging (IMs); and to promote the inclusion of narrative therapy interventions in high school classrooms. Contact her at Maributl@nova.edu

Publication Date

12-21-2009

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2009.2864

Recommended APA Citation

Butler, S. (2009). Considering "Objective" Possibilities in Autoethnography: A Critique of Heewon Chang’s Autoethnography as Method1. The Qualitative Report, 15(1), 295-299. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2009.2864

Comments

Original volume and issue number from The Qualitative Weekly, an offshoot publication of The Qualitative Report which has been folded into the primary journal: Volume 2, Issue 51