9th Biennial ACSPRI Social Science Methodology Conference

This presentation focuses on the challenges and contributions of an ethnographic approach to the learning experiences of airline cabin crew members as they adapt to their dynamic work environments. Grounded in sociocultural theories of learning, particularly Lave and Wenger's (1991) situated learning concepts, this research aims to understand how cabin crew develop the necessary skills to operate in socially dynamic, safety-critical work contexts. I will explore how ethnographic methods can be applied to workplace learning in complex settings, contributing to ongoing discussions about the evolution of social science research.

Conducting ethnographic research in the highly regulated and fast-paced aviation industry posed significant challenges. First, getting permission to observe training sessions and live flight operations involved navigating organisational protocols and balancing safety concerns with the need for detailed observation. Once in the field, I had to adjust to the dynamic nature of the workplace, where crew members frequently changed flights, interacted with different colleagues and customers, and worked across various routes. Later, consistently tracking individual learning journeys required flexibility and perseverance in my data collection approach. For example, when participant observation was limited, interviews and casual conversations helped me follow their experiences and maintain our connections. During eight months of fieldwork, I could interpret social interactions, tacit knowledge, and context that shaped the learning experiences of new crew members transitioning from training to real-world flight operations.

Additionally, I carefully navigated my dual role as observer and participant. While immersed in the cabin crew's environment, I balanced engaging with participants and respecting their confidentiality, as well as the operational demands, especially during high-stress situations such as assessments and disrupted operations. Despite the challenges, this role adaptation enriched my insights into how cabin crew negotiate both explicit and tacit knowledge under real-world conditions. This immersion also allowed me to capture how learning is intertwined with everyday experiences, showing how ethnography can adapt to complex work environments.

This study contributes to social science research methodology, particularly vocational learning and professional development. The approach provides access to informal, context-specific learning often overlooked by more structured methods such as quantitative assessments, surveys, or retrospective interviews. It uncovers the social and cultural dimensions of learning that occur as cabin crew members participate in real-time challenges, interact with colleagues and customers, and engage in decision-making during flights. Moreover, the research advances our understanding of how professional identities are formed through situated learning in complex workplaces. By focusing on the negotiation between formal training and informal learning, the study highlights the value of ethnography for examining how individuals and teams develop expertise in high-pressure, safety-critical environments. These insights enrich the literature on workplace learning and contribute to broader methodological discussions about ethnography in modern work contexts.