Handbook of Research Methods on the Quality of Working Lives
Edited by Daniel Wheatley
Chapter 10: Ethnographic methods with limited access: assessing quality of work in hard to reach jobs
Adam Badger and Jamie Woodcock
Abstract
This chapter explores the use of ethnographic methods in work contexts with access challenges. It is clear that many workplaces (broadly defined) have pressing concerns over quality of work, but many of these can be difficult to explore in empirical research. This chapter will focus particularly on examples in the gig economy, discussing a gig work platform and its growing presence in the UK. Beyond the glossy customer app and worker recruitment, the issues with quality of work have become obscured. The requirement to navigate and traverse the city, in collaboration with algorithmic management structures, makes this particularly suitable for experimental ethnographic methods. This chapter critically explores the authors’ own ethnographic research into the quality of working for a platform, in particular looking at questions of sustained access and the robustness of data collection methods. The aim is to further open the discourse on researching the “gig-economy”.
You are not authenticated to view the full text of this chapter or article.
Elgaronline requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books or journals. Please login through your library system or with your personal username and password on the homepage.
Non-subscribers can freely search the site, view abstracts/ extracts and download selected front matter and introductory chapters for personal use.
Your library may not have purchased all subject areas. If you are authenticated and think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.