
Respecifying Lab Ethnography
An Ethnomethodological Study of Experimental Physics
Philippe Sormani(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 15. October 2014
Book
Hardback
296 pages
978-1-4094-6586-7 (ISBN)
Description
Respecifying Lab Ethnography delivers the first ethnomethodological study of current experimental physics in action, describing the disciplinary orientation of lab work and exploring the discipline in its social order, formal stringency and skilful performance - in situ and in vivo. Drawing upon extensive participant observation, this book articulates and draws upon two major strands of ethnomethodological inquiry: reflexive ethnography and video analysis. In bringing together these two approaches, which have hitherto existed in parallel, Respecifying Lab Ethnography introduces a practice-based video analysis. In doing so, the book recasts conventional distinctions to shed fresh light on methodological issues surrounding the descriptive investigation of social practices more broadly. An engaged and innovative study of the encountered worksite, this book will appeal not only to sociologists with interests in ethnomethodology and the sociology of work, but also to scholars of science and technology studies and those working in the fields of ethnography and social science methodology.
Reviews / Votes
'As this book on the scanning tunneling microscopy of complex superconducting compounds? evidences, laboratory science, as it is increasingly instrumentalized and mathematized with its stringently self-policing protocols, leaves the radical concealment? of its method open for urgent and painstakingly ethnomethodological inquiry. I am happy to report that this book has lived up to its tall task.' DuA!an I. Bjeli, University of Southern Maine, USA 'For decades, sociologists and anthropologists of science have talked and debated about how to investigate scientific practice. In Respecifying Lab Ethnography, Philippe Sormani delivers the goods. His description of his own efforts to master the techniques of experimental physics breaks new ground in two ways. First, it reveals an unprecedented level of detail on the material practice of doing cutting-edge science and, second, it presents deep insight into the practice of ethnography.' Michael E. Lynch, Cornell University, USA '[This study] succeeds in explicating the actual in-vivo practices of scientific practice and discovery. It provides a corrective perspective to the analogising and ironicising accounts of STS. It illustrates the limits of previous ethnomethodological studies it acknowledges it is itself built on. Its challenge to the central role of respecification in analysis is cogent, and it usefully draws our attention to unique adequacy as a requirement for ethnomethodological video analysis. This is a book which will provide healthy debate for many.' BSA Network MagazineMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
614 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4094-6586-7 (9781409465867)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
06/2020
1st Edition
Routledge
€51.98
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
04/2016
Routledge
€59.49
Available for download

E-Book
04/2016
Routledge
€59.49
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Person
Philippe Sormani is Postdoctoral Assistant in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at the University of Vienna, Austria.
Content
Respecifying Lab Ethnography