Ethnography of Knowledge

A qualitative research method that studies how knowledge is created, shared, and used in specific social settings—laboratories, hospitals, courtrooms, or indigenous communities. Ethnographers of knowledge observe rituals of validation (peer review, expert testimony), the use of tools and instruments, and the everyday practices that produce “facts.” They are influenced by science and technology studies (Latour, Knorr Cetina). Unlike the sociology of knowledge (which often uses historical or macro‑level analysis), ethnography of knowledge provides fine‑grained, real‑time accounts of knowledge‑in‑action.

Ethnography of Knowledge Example: “The ethnography of knowledge in a forensic lab showed that ‘matching’ a fingerprint was not a simple yes/no—it involved negotiation, tacit skills, and knowledge of the legal consequences. Knowledge was made, not just found.”

Ethnography of Knowledge by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal June 1, 2026