Published: October 16, 2024

Autoethnography is a qualitative research method that blends elements of autobiography and ethnography to explore the researcher’s personal experiences in relation to broader social and cultural contexts. It goes beyond traditional ethnography by incorporating the researcher’s own reflections as part of the data, thereby revealing how personal stories intersect with larger social issues. This method is not only a way to collect data but also an approach that critiques the boundaries between the researcher and the researched, emphasizing subjectivity and self-reflection.

Autoethnography allows the researcher to explore personal experiences within cultural frameworks, providing deep insights into how individual and social experiences overlap. The researcher’s personal voice becomes a vital source of data, helping to connect the personal with the universal (Ellis et al., 2010). It encourages vulnerability and authenticity in research, which can be transformative both for the researcher and the reader. This method not only helps in generating knowledge but also in facilitating personal growth, empathy, and social change (Lawal & Bitso, 2022). By writing in a first-person narrative, autoethnography can make academic research more accessible to non-academic audiences, allowing broader public engagement with the research findings.

In library and information sciences (LIS), autoethnography offers a way for information professionals to examine their own experiences with information usage, search behavior, and professional challenges. It has the potential to deepen understanding of the human aspects of information work, such as how personal identity influences information-seeking behavior or the emotional labor involved in providing library services.

One example is Karen Bordonaro’s autoethnography study to explore information literacy practices and their impact on adult learners, incorporating self-directed and lifelong learning theories (Bordonaro, 2020). Autoethnography could also be used to document the experiences of librarians as they navigate complex user relationships, institutional politics, or technology adoption, offering a reflective space for discussing these challenges.

To further understand this method, you might be interested in reading Sarah Wall’s “Easier Said than Done: Writing an Autoethnography”, which explores the challenges of conducting autoethnography, particularly the ethical and representational dilemmas encountered during the author’s research on international adoption (Wall, 2008).