Academic Integrity and the Inclusion of East Asian International Students in Canadian Higher Education

Autoethnography As Theoretical Framework And Method

This chapter utilizes autoethnography as both theoretical framework and method. Autoethnography is “a highly personal process” yet “it carefully examines how the researcher interacted with other people within their socio-cultural contexts and how social forces have influenced their lived experiences” (Chang, 2013, p.107). Spry (2001) states that autoethnography is “a self-narrative that critiques the situatedness of self with others in social, political, economic and cultural context” (p.710). Jones (2005) states that “autoethnography involves setting a scene, telling a story, weaving intricate connections among life and art, experience and theory, evocation and explanation … hoping for readers who will bring the same careful attention to our words in the context of their own lives” (p.765). While there are various understandings of autoethnography as a theoretical and/or a methodological framework, Chang (2013) summarizes some of the common characteristics of autoethnography as follows:

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  “Autoethnography uses the researcher’s personal experiences as primary data;

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  Autoethnography intends to expand the understanding of social phenomena;

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  Autoethnography processes can vary and result in different writing products.” (p.108)