Library: Anthropology Resources: Ethnography

Finding Ethnographic Studies: Strategies and Sources

Helmke Library Catalog
Helmke Library's Catalog includes many book-length ethnographic studies. Unfortunately, the word ethnography is not always listed in the catalog record. You might try searching for the name of the culture you are studying and leave off the word ethnography. You could also try adding the word "ethnology" to your search. Try also the Library "Everything" Search.

Proquest Ebook Central
This database allows you to search the full text of thousands of e-books. When searching Ebook Central, you can search for your culture group or topic and then add a word/s such as: ethnography, participant observation, interviews, etc. If you prefer a print book, search for the book you found in ProQuest in IUCAT or All IUCAT.

JSTOR (Book Reviews)
Another strategy for finding ethnographic studies is to look at book reviews that may mention the word ethnography in the review. To look for book reviews in JSTOR, choose the option "Review" before entering your search. You will also find book reviews in other scholarly article databases and may also find book reviews (or book descriptions) with Google. If you find a good book in JSTOR, try the catalog, ProQuest Ebooks, or Document Delivery to find the book.

eHRAF World Cultures
There are over 100 book-length ethnographies in eHRAF. See the eHRAF tab for more details. To find a print copy of a book you found in eHRAF, go to Helmke Library's Catalog.

Scholarly Article Databases
You can search Anthropology Plus and other scholarly article databases with the keyword: ethnography. If you need a book-length ethnographic study, check the bibliography of the articles you found to see if they point you to any ethnographic studies.
Ask A Librarian
Finding an ethnographic study can be a challenge, so please don't hesitate to ask! The tips provided here may not work for every topic and there are additional ways to search.
Google Books
In Google Books, you can search the full text of books for the word ethnography plus your key terms. However, because of copyright restrictions, you won't be able to read the book in Google. After you find a book of interest, search in Helmke Library's Catalog or WorldCat to locate the actual book.