Autoethnography

A Case for the Defence

Dane Morace-Court

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2026
• eBook ISBN: 9781040692905
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Research in Education
• Index: Psychology

Autoethnography: A Case for the Defence presents a thoughtful and compelling exploration of autoethnography as a research methodology, addressing the growing wave of academic, analytical and ethical critiques that accompany its rising prominence. Rather than simply outlining the foundations and rationale behind autoethnography, this text takes a distinctive stance by advocating for and defending the methodology in response to the evolving discourse around its validity. It provides deeper insight and practical guidance for those interested in pursuing or better understanding qualitative research methods. Grounded in robust research and interwoven with references to influential autoethnographic works, the book establishes a strong scholarly framework, reinforcing the credibility of autoethnography as a valuable methodological tool. Through engaging, accessible prose, the author confronts criticisms head-on, offering clear explanations and vivid examples that underscore autoethnography's vital role in examining and interpreting complex and broad social phenomena. This book is designed for students, academics and researchers interested in autoethnography, qualitative inquiry and broader research methodologies.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• 1 Autoethnography: A Method on Trial
• 2 Can’t We All Just Get Along?: On the Bifurcation of Evocative and Analytical Autoethnography
• 3 Self-Obsession Masquerading as Scholarship?: On the Claim That Autoethnography Is Narcissistic
• 4 Unreliable Narrators: On the Claim That Autoethnography Lacks Validity and Reliability
• 5 It’s Not Rocket Science: On the Claim That Autoethnography Is Not Scientific
• 6 This Might Get Personal: On the Claim That Autoethnography Is an Emotional, Rather than Analytical, Framework
• 7 The Art of Snore: On the Claim That Autoethnography Is Uninteresting
• 8 Sharing Is Not Caring: On the Claim That Autoethnography Is Unethical
• 9 Blurred Lines?: On the Claim That Autoethnography Blurs the Genres of Creative Writing and Critical Inquiry
• 10 Nuance to Nonsense: On the Claim That Autoethnography Oversimplifies Complex Social Phenomena
• 11 Truth Hurts?: On the Claim That Autoethnography Further Entrenches Marginalisation
• 12 I Rest My Case: Conclusions in the Defence of Autoethnography
• Index