Autoethnography in Social Science Training Course

Autoethnography in Social Science Training Course

Introduction

Autoethnography is a transformative qualitative research methodology that integrates self-reflexivity, lived experience, cultural analysis, and narrative inquiry to produce rich, contextually grounded social knowledge. Positioned at the intersection of postmodern theory, interpretivist paradigms, critical social science, and decolonial methodologies, autoethnography challenges positivist traditions by legitimizing embodied knowledge, emotional labor, and subjective meaning-making. In contemporary social science, this approach has gained momentum due to its capacity to address identity, power, intersectionality, marginalization, and social justice, making it highly relevant in an era of complex social change, globalization, and digital cultures.

Autoethnography in Social Science Training Course equips participants with theoretical grounding, methodological rigor, ethical awareness, and applied skills required to design, conduct, analyze, and publish autoethnographic research. Through case-based learning, reflective practice, narrative writing workshops, and real-world research examples, learners will explore diverse forms of autoethnography, including analytic, evocative, collaborative, performative, and digital autoethnography. The course emphasizes academic credibility, methodological transparency, and scholarly impact, preparing participants to integrate autoethnography into research projects, teaching, policy analysis, and professional practice across disciplines in the social sciences.

Course Duration

5 days

Course Objectives

1. Develop advanced reflexive research skills
2. Understand contemporary qualitative research paradigms
3. Apply autoethnographic theory to social inquiry
4. Strengthen narrative and analytical writing competencies
5. Integrate intersectionality and positionality analysis
6. Ensure ethical rigor and emotional accountability
7. Analyze culture, identity, and power relations
8. Conduct methodologically sound autoethnographic studies
9. Utilize digital and multimedia autoethnography tools
10. Produce publishable academic manuscripts
11. Critically evaluate autoethnographic research quality
12. Apply autoethnography in policy, education, and advocacy
13. Enhance research impact and knowledge translation

Target Audience

1. Social science researchers and scholars
2. PhD and postgraduate students
3. Faculty members and educators
4. Qualitative research practitioners
5. Policy analysts and development professionals
6. Mental health and social work professionals
7. Cultural studies and gender studies scholars
8. NGO and community-based researchers

Course Modules

Module 1: Foundations of Autoethnography

• Definition and evolution of autoethnography
• Epistemological and ontological foundations
• Autoethnography vs ethnography vs autobiography
• Key theorists and seminal works
• Case Study: Ellis & Bochner’s foundational autoethnographies

Module 2: Theoretical Frameworks

• Interpretivism and constructivism
• Feminist and critical race theory
• Postcolonial and decolonial perspectives
• Symbolic interactionism
• Case Study: Autoethnography in feminist social research

Module 3: Forms and Approaches

• Analytic autoethnography
• Evocative and emotional narratives
• Collaborative autoethnography
• Performative and arts-based methods
• Case Study: Collaborative autoethnography in education

Module 4: Data Collection and Reflexivity

• Memory work and personal archives
• Journaling and field notes
• Emotional recall and sensory data
• Positionality mapping
• Case Study: Reflexive data practices in migration studies

Module 5: Ethics and Vulnerability

• Informed consent and relational ethics
• Writing about others responsibly
• Emotional risk and researcher wellbeing
• Institutional review challenges
• Case Study: Ethical dilemmas in family autoethnography

Module 6: Analysis and Interpretation

• Thematic and narrative analysis
• Linking personal experience to culture
• Theory-driven interpretation
• Validity and credibility strategies
• Case Study: Analytic autoethnography in health research

Module 7: Writing and Representation

• Academic vs creative writing balance
• Voice, tone, and authenticity
• Storytelling as knowledge production
• Peer review and revision strategies
• Case Study: Publishing autoethnography in top journals

Module 8: Applications and Impact

• Autoethnography in policy and practice
• Teaching and pedagogical use
• Digital and visual autoethnography
• Public scholarship and activism
• Case Study: Autoethnography for social justice advocacy

Training Methodology

This course employs a participatory and hands-on approach to ensure practical learning, including:

• Interactive lectures and presentations.
• Group discussions and brainstorming sessions.
• Hands-on exercises using real-world datasets.
• Role-playing and scenario-based simulations.
• Analysis of case studies to bridge theory and practice.
• Peer-to-peer learning and networking.
• Expert-led Q&A sessions.
• Continuous feedback and personalized guidance.

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: info@datastatresearch.org or call +254724527104 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

 We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to DATASTAT CONSULTANCY LTD account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.