1. Researching parliaments: ethnography
Emma Crewe, June 2015

2. What is ethnography?
Methodological and theoretical approach to studying social worlds as well as the written product, usually a book, that contains findings
Town, competitive, ambitious, average age 50, 504 men and 145 women, very complex mix of roles

3. Methods – how did I study them?
Observation
Chamber & Select Committees
APPGs & other meetings
Media (press, radio, TV, web, twitter)
Seven constituencies: surgeries & meetings
Interaction
Formal interviews with: 121 peers, 44 MPs, 24 former MPs (18 of these were peers) and 100 staff, civil servants, or journalists
Informal conversations/gossip
Participation in policy forums
Advising Commons’ officials on research
Submitted evidence to committees
Case Studies
House of Lords Bill 1999
Children’s and Families Bill 2014
Selection of an candidate
Eastleigh by-election
Lit review, analysis & outputs
Review of biographies & literature
Report for parliament
Journal articles
Two books (two long, one short)
Radio programmes and talks

4. What is distinctive about ethnography?
Theory and methods are entangled: different methods for different research questions
Reflexivity is essential for rigour: how is the researcher influencing the research?
Attention to patterns: what are the similarities, differences, changes, gaps, and contradictions

5. Theory and method entangled: Why are MPs more rebellious?

6. The Daily Mail’s Downing St catwalk
Reflexivity – why can’t I ignore feminism?
The Daily Mail’s Downing St catwalk

7. Patterns – what is below law-making?
Clause 11
Welfare of the child: parental involvement (1) Section 1 of the Children Act 1989 (welfare of the child) is amended as follows: (2) After subsection (2) insert - "(2A) A court, in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (4)(a) or (7), is as respects each parent within subsection (6)(a) to presume, unless the contrary is shown, that involvement of that parent in the life of the child concerned will further the child's welfare." (2B) In subsection (2A) “involvement” means involvement of some kind, either direct or indirect, but not any particular division of a child’s time.” (3) After subsection (5) insert: "(6) In subsection (2A) "parent" means parent of the child concerned; and, for the purposes of that subsection, a parent of the child concerned - (a) is within this paragraph if that parent can be involved in the child's life in a way that does not put the child at risk of suffering harm; and (b) is to be treated as being within paragraph (a) unless there is some evidence before the court in the particular proceedings to suggest that involvement of that parent in the child's life would put the child at risk of suffering harm whatever the form of the involvement. The circumstances referred to are that the court is considering whether to make an order under section 4(1)(c) or (2A) or 4ZA(1)(c) or (5) (parental responsibility of parent other than mother)."

8. 5 tips for doing a good ethnography
Work out how to establish trust as quickly as possible
Continually notice & challenge your own assumptions
Hone your skill as asking questions, listening & watching
Take account of multiple views and how Parliament is changing
Test out your interpretations on as many as possible