Welcome!

OpenEthnography provides information about scholarly research using ethnographic methodologies. Posts are automatically created by importing RSS feeds from a variety of journals, publishers, and other sources devoted to ethnographic research. In particular, we follow RSS feeds that provide open access to scholarly research. The process is not perfect, so some posts are not particularly useful, but links to the original are always included. While we try to offer a consistent experience with for all aggregated posts, the format of posts relies on data provided by various feeds.

Our goal is to provide easy access to a variety of open access resources. While nearly all publishers offer open access options, most publishers only offer open access for a short time and weblinks to open resources close quickly. NEVER PAY FOR ACCESS. We are not here to encourage or enrich parasitic publishers (nearly all scholarly publishers qualify) with business models that start with free content created by state-funded researchers, provided under threat of losing jobs and careers (publish or perish), cleansed through corporate controlled “peer review” that eliminates controversial points, then sold back to universities at prices libraries cannot afford.

To be blunt, the process of sharing scholarly research is insane. Taxpayers are paying for this research and deserve free access. OpenEthnography encourages many forms of resistance, beginning with an understanding of the problem. If you are a consumer of scholarly research we encourage you to become savvier with searches for open access scholarly materials. Google Scholar, or what is left of it, is an excellent option. Again, you will need to filter through open and closed access research, but many open access publications can be found with a web search.

If you are a producer, look for open access alternatives. Also, try to retain ownership of your work. As a citizen, ask why your tax dollars are being used to subsidize extremely profitable publishers. Become educated about scholarly publishing. Speak out. Ask your library why the resources are closed. Encourage policy change in local institutions and worldwide. You pay for this research and deserve open access.

We also provide links to ethnography-related books. We encourage you to purchase used or open-access books. Several are found on this site. If you are a student, ask whether the previous version of the text will work for your class. If you are a faculty member, ask if changes to the most recent version justify the added cost. You are also encouraged to hold off as long as possible with textbook upgrades. Revised versions are often substantially unchanged, with new editions offered to kill the used book market rather than provide new knowledge.

Enjoy the site, and please let us know if you have suggestions.

To learn more:

The Architecture of Access to Scientific Knowledge