From Isolation to Impact: Tackling the Emotional Toll of Ethnographic Research in Business and Society
In this article, Lorenzo Skade discusses the emotional difficulties encountered by early-career researchers involved in ethnographic studies within the business and society field. He explores the emotional impact of dealing with intricate and high-pressure research environments. The complete argument is detailed in a recently released commentary titled “All by Myself: Navigating the Lonely Odyssey of Ethnographic Fieldwork in the Business and Society Domain,” published in Business & Society.
Ethnographic research provides deep insights into how businesses engage with critical societal issues such as inequality, poverty, and public health disparities. Despite its value, this work frequently leaves early career researchers (ECRs) facing emotional challenges like stress, loneliness, and self-doubt—realities that are often overlooked amid celebrated research results. Based on my experiences, I compare the path of ECRs to that of Odysseus: a solitary journey fraught with uncertainty and emotional turmoil. Engaging deeply in the field can expose researchers to the difficulties their participants face, making it even harder to balance academic integrity with personal detachment.
In my initial ethnographic project, small acts of isolation—like colleagues going to lunch without me—intensified feelings of isolation. I began to doubt my abilities, questioned my research, and found it hard to balance deep engagement in the field with necessary emotional detachment. These struggles were more pronounced during an ethnography in the military context, where the emotional weight affected both my colleague and me significantly.
The systemic pressures in academia exacerbate these personal struggles. In BAS research, addressing societal issues often feels highly personal. ECRs face the challenge of meeting expectations for impactful work while managing their emotional health. Unfortunately, the support available tends to emphasize individual resilience, neglecting the systemic changes that could ease these burdens.
The isolated journey of ethnographic research does not need to be a lonely one. Collaboration and systemic support are crucial for confronting the challenges ECRs encounter. For example, team-based research can foster emotional and intellectual solidarity. Diverse teams, which include researchers from various career levels, disciplines, and identities, can better navigate the complexities of business and society issues. Supervision must extend beyond mere technical guidance; supervisors should recognize the emotional weight of ethnography, sharing their own experiences to normalize feelings of doubt and vulnerability.
On an institutional scale, universities and academic organizations need to create support systems. Establishing mentorship programs, safe spaces for reflection, and collaborative workshops can enable ECRs to learn from experienced ethnographers and peers while addressing emotional difficulties. Offering platforms for early-stage research sharing and open-access initiatives would ensure insights are disseminated promptly, connecting researchers more closely with the real-world issues they investigate. Finally, increased transparency about the non-linear and iterative aspects of ethnographic research is essential. Journals and institutions should provide room to discuss how unforeseen developments and interactions influenced their studies.
By systematically tackling these challenges, we can turn the solitary odyssey of ethnographic fieldwork into a rewarding journey. Prioritizing both the quality of research and the well-being of researchers is vital for cultivating a supportive, empathetic scholarly community.
