Publications
Selected publications
- Thinking Like a Machine (Journal article - 2023)
- ‘Digital necromancy’: why bringing people back from the dead with AI is just an extension of our grieving practices (Media - 2023)
- The Academic Emulator (Internet publication - 2023)
- The Problem of the State (Book - 2021)
- Investigative Methods: An NCRM Innovation Collection (Book - 2022)
- Doing things with description: practices, politics, and the art of attentiveness (Journal article - 2021)
- Just what are we doing when we're describing AI? Harvey Sacks, the commentator machine, and the descriptive politics of the new artificial intelligence (Journal article - 2021)
2023
‘Digital necromancy’: why bringing people back from the dead with AI is just an extension of our grieving practices
Mair, M., Saha, D., Brooker, P., & Heng, T. (2023). ‘Digital necromancy’: why bringing people back from the dead with AI is just an extension of our grieving practices. [Online news article/blog]. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/
The Academic Emulator
Saha, D., Mair, M., & Brooker, P. (2023). The Academic Emulator. Retrieved from https://academic-emulator.web.app/about
Thinking Like a Machine
Saha, D., Brooker, P., Mair, M., & Reeves, S. (n.d.). Thinking Like a Machine. Science & Technology Studies. doi:10.23987/sts.122892
2022
Researching Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence
Brooker, P., & Mair, M. (2022). Researching Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence. In W. Housley, R. Fitzgerald, A. Edwards, & R. Beneito-Montagut (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Digital Society. London: SAGE.
Research with Numbers
Mair, M., Sharrock, W. W., & Greiffenhagen, C. (2022). Research with Numbers. In The Ethnomethodology Program (pp. 348-370). Oxford University PressNew York. doi:10.1093/oso/9780190854409.003.0013
Investigating the Use of Force in Contemporary Conflict: Researching Military Operations with Audio, Video and Transcript Data
Holder, A., Elsey, C., Kolanoski, M., & Mair, M. (2022). Investigating the Use of Force in Contemporary Conflict: Researching Military Operations with Audio, Video and Transcript Data. In M. Mair, R. Meckin, & M. Elliot (Eds.), Investigative Methods: An NCRM Innovation Collection. Southampton: National Centre for Research Methods. doi:10.5258/NCRM/NCRM.00004546
Investigative Methods, An Editorial Introduction
Mair, M., Meckin, R., & Elliot, M. (2022). Investigative Methods, An Editorial Introduction. In M. Mair, R. Meckin, & M. Elliot (Eds.), Investigative Methods: An NCRM Innovation Collection. Southampton: National Centre for Research Methods. doi:10.5258/NCRM/NCRM.00004543
Investigative Methods: An NCRM Innovation Collection
Mair, M., Meckin, R., & Elliot, M. (Eds.) (2022). Investigative Methods: An NCRM Innovation Collection. National Centre for Research Methods. doi:10.5258/NCRM/NCRM.00004542
Doing the Organization’s Work—Transcription for All Practical Governmental Purposes
Holder, A., Elsey, C., Kolanoski, M., Brooker, P., & Mair, M. (n.d.). Doing the Organization’s Work—Transcription for All Practical Governmental Purposes. Frontiers in Communication, 6. doi:10.3389/fcomm.2021.797485
2021
Doing things with description: practices, politics, and the art of attentiveness
Vitellone, N., Mair, M., & Kierans, C. (2021). Doing things with description: practices, politics, and the art of attentiveness. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH, 21(3), 313-323. doi:10.1177/1468794120975972
Just what are we doing when we're describing AI? Harvey Sacks, the commentator machine, and the descriptive politics of the new artificial intelligence
Mair, M., Brooker, P., Dutton, W., & Sormani, P. (2021). Just what are we doing when we're describing AI? Harvey Sacks, the commentator machine, and the descriptive politics of the new artificial intelligence. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH, 21(3), 341-359. doi:10.1177/1468794120975988
The Problem of the State
Mair, M. (n.d.). The Problem of the State. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429464331
2020
Action, Meaning and Understanding: Seeing Sociologically with Harvey Sacks
Mair, M., & Sharrock, W. (2020). Action, Meaning and Understanding: Seeing Sociologically with Harvey Sacks. In R. J. Smith, R. Fitzgerald, & W. Housley (Eds.), On Sacks: Methodology, Materials, and Inspirations. London: Routledge.
Innovation in Research Methods: Investigative Social Research
Mair, M., Meckin, R., & Elliot, M. (2020). Innovation in Research Methods: Investigative Social Research. National Centre for Research Methods. Retrieved from https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/news/show.php?article=5583
2019
The New Ghosts in the Machine: ‘Pragmatist’ AI and the Conceptual Perils of Anthropomorphic Description
Brooker, P., Dutton, W., & Mair, M. D. (2019). The New Ghosts in the Machine: ‘Pragmatist’ AI and the Conceptual Perils of Anthropomorphic Description. Ethnographic Studies, 16, 272-298. doi:10.5281/zenodo.3459327
Garfinkel, Harold
Mair, M. D., & Sharrock, W. W. (2019). Garfinkel, Harold. In P. Atkinson, S. Delamont, M. Hardy, M. Williams, A. Cernat, & J. W. Sakshaug (Eds.), SAGE Research Methods Foundations. London: SAGE. doi:10.4135/9781526421036753375
2018
War on Video: Combat Footage, Vernacular Video Analysis and Military Culture from Within
Mair, M. D., Elsey, C., Smith, P. V., & Watson, P. G. (2018). War on Video: Combat Footage, Vernacular Video Analysis and Military Culture from Within. Ethnographic Studies, (15), 83-105. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1475784
Just what are we doing when we're describing AI? Harvey Sacks, the commentator machine and the descriptive turn in artificial intelligence
Sormani, P., Brooker, P. D., & Mair, M. (2018). Just what are we doing when we're describing AI? Harvey Sacks, the commentator machine and the descriptive turn in artificial intelligence. In EASST2018: Meetings - Making Science, Technology and Society Together. Lancaster University, UK.
The Planners’ Dream Goes Wrong? Questioning Citizen-Centred Planning
Lord, A., Mair, M. D., Sturzaker, J., & Jones, P. (2018). The Planners’ Dream Goes Wrong? Questioning Citizen-Centred Planning. INLOGOV, The Institute of Local Government Studies. Retrieved from https://inlogov.com/
Stealth Bombing: Europe’s Hidden Involvement in the United States’ Drone Wars
Holder, A., Mair, M. D., & Minor, E. (2018). Stealth Bombing: Europe’s Hidden Involvement in the United States’ Drone Wars. Retrieved from https://braveneweurope.com/
Targeting Legality: The Armed Drone as a Socio-Technical and Socio-Legal System
Holder, A., Minor, E., & Mair, M. (2018). Targeting Legality: The Armed Drone as a Socio-Technical and Socio-Legal System. Journal of the Oxford Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, 1-17.
Politics, Government and Corruption:
Mair, M., & Jones, P. (n.d.). Politics, Government and Corruption:. In How Corrupt is Britain? (pp. 124-134). Pluto Press. doi:10.2307/j.ctt183p7g4.14
Violence as Work: Ethnomethodological Insights into Military Combat Operations
Chris, E., Mair, M. D., & Kolanoski, M. (2018). Violence as Work: Ethnomethodological Insights into Military Combat Operations. Psychology of Violence, 8(3), 316-328. doi:10.1037/vio0000173
The future of European militaries will be remotely piloted – and that should worry us all
Mair, M. D., Holder, A., & Minor, E. (2018). The future of European militaries will be remotely piloted – and that should worry us all. Brave New Europe. Retrieved from https://braveneweurope.com/
2017
Reflections on Collecting the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo
Minor, E., & Mair, M. D. (2017). Reflections on Collecting the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. Retrieved from https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2017/12/16/73288/
Submission of Written Evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry into the Use of Armed Drones: Drone Strikes, Legal Reasoning and the Need for Transparency
Mair, M. D., Holder, A., & Minor, E. (2017). Submission of Written Evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry into the Use of Armed Drones: Drone Strikes, Legal Reasoning and the Need for Transparency. Retrieved from http://appgdrones.org.uk/
The Europeanisation of the Armed Drone
Mair, M. D., Minor, E., & Holder, A. (2017). The Europeanisation of the Armed Drone. Brave New Europe. Retrieved from https://braveneweurope.com/
Genealogy, Parasitism and Moral Economy: The Case of UK Supermarket Growth
Jones, P., & Mair, M. (2017). Genealogy, Parasitism and Moral Economy: The Case of UK Supermarket Growth. In D. Whyte, & J. Wiegratz (Eds.), Neo-liberalism and the Moral Economy of Fraud. London: Routledge.
Interpretive Asymmetry, Retrospective Inquiry and the Explication of Action in an Incident of Friendly Fire
Mair, M., Elsey, C., Watson, P. G., & Smith, P. V. (2017). Interpretive Asymmetry, Retrospective Inquiry and the Explication of Action in an Incident of Friendly Fire. doi:10.31235/osf.io/nvfu9
The Planners’ Dream Goes Wrong? Questioning Citizen-Centred Planning
Lord, A., Mair, M. D., Sturzaker, J., & Jones, P. (2017). The Planners’ Dream Goes Wrong? Questioning Citizen-Centred Planning. Local Government Studies, 43(3), 344-363. doi:10.1080/03003930.2017.1288618
2016
The Violence You Were/n’t Meant to See: Representations of Death in an Age of Digital Reproduction
Mair, M., Elsey, C., Smith, P. V., & Watson, P. G. (2016). The Violence You Were/n’t Meant to See: Representations of Death in an Age of Digital Reproduction. In The Palgrave Handbook of Criminology and War (pp. 425-443). Palgrave Macmillan UK. doi:10.1057/978-1-137-43170-7_23
Statistical Practice: Putting Society on Display
Mair, M., Greiffenhagen, C., & Sharrock, W. W. (2016). Statistical Practice: Putting Society on Display. Theory, Culture & Society, 33(3), 51-77. doi:10.1177/0263276414559058
Julian Assange and the 'Academic Embargo' on Wikileaks' Revelations
Mair, M. D. (2016). Julian Assange and the 'Academic Embargo' on Wikileaks' Revelations. Retrieved from https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/
Ethnomethodology, conversation analysis and the study of action-in-interaction in military settings
Elsey, C., Mair, M., Smith, P. V., & Watson, P. G. (2016). Ethnomethodology, conversation analysis and the study of action-in-interaction in military settings. In The Routledge Companion to Military Research Methods (pp. 180-195). doi:10.4324/9781315613253-22
2015
Practitioner Perspectives: Safeguarding Children and Young People from Radicalisation. Report produced for Merseyside Local Authority.
Vaughn, L., Godfrey, B., Waring, S., & Mair, M. (2015). Practitioner Perspectives: Safeguarding Children and Young People from Radicalisation. Report produced for Merseyside Local Authority.: Practitioner Perspectives: Safeguarding Children and Young People from Radicalisation. Report produced for Merseyside Local Authority..
Methodological Troubles as Problem and Phenomenon: Ethnomethodology and the Question of 'Method' in the Social Sciences
Greiffenhagen, C., Mair, M., & Sharrock, W. W. (2015). Methodological Troubles as Problem and Phenomenon: Ethnomethodology and the Question of 'Method' in the Social Sciences. British Journal of Sociology, 66(3), 460-485. doi:10.1111/1468-4446.12136
Politics, Government and Corruption: The Case of the Private Finance Initiative
Mair, M., & Jones, P. (2015). Politics, Government and Corruption: The Case of the Private Finance Initiative. In D. Whyte, & W. MacMahon (Eds.), How Corrupt is Britain? (pp. 124-134). London: Pluto Press.
2014
190th Fighter Squadron/Blues and Royals Fratricide: Modified Incident Transcript
Mair, M., Elsey, C., Smith, P. V., & Watson, P. G. (2014). 190th Fighter Squadron/Blues and Royals Fratricide: Modified Incident Transcript [Transcript]. http://repository.liv.ac.uk/2005800/. Retrieved from https://liverpool.academia.edu/MichaelMair/Transcripts
2013
Interpretive Asymmetry, Retrospective Inquiry and the Explication of Action in an Incident of Friendly Fire
Mair, M., Elsey, C., Watson, P. G., & Smith, P. V. (2013). Interpretive Asymmetry, Retrospective Inquiry and the Explication of Action in an Incident of Friendly Fire. SYMBOLIC INTERACTION, 36(4), 398-416. doi:10.1002/symb.78
Social Studies of Social Science: A Working Bibliography
Mair, M., Greiffenhagen, C., & Sharrock, W. W. (2013). Social Studies of Social Science: A Working Bibliography. NCRM Working Paper Series, (3219). Retrieved from http://eprints.ncrm.ac.uk/3219
2012
Patients' uses of information as researchable domains of social practice
Mair, M., & Kierans, C. (2012). Patients' uses of information as researchable domains of social practice. HEALTH INFORMATICS JOURNAL, 18(4), 271-283. doi:10.1177/1460458212445400
Alcohol, Tobacco and Obesity
Bell, K. (n.d.). Alcohol, Tobacco and Obesity. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203822159
War-making and sense-making: some technical reflections on an instance of friendly fire'
Mair, M., Watson, P. G., Elsey, C., & Smith, P. V. (2012). War-making and sense-making: some technical reflections on an instance of friendly fire'. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY, 63(1), 75-96. doi:10.1111/j.1468-4446.2011.01394.x
2011
From Methodology to Methodography: A Study of Qualitative and Quantitative Reasoning in Practice
Greiffenhagen, C., Mair, M., & Sharrock, W. (2011). From Methodology to Methodography: A Study of Qualitative and Quantitative Reasoning in Practice. Methodological Innovations Online, 6(3), 93-107. doi:10.4256/mio.2011.009
Deconstructing behavioural classifications: tobacco control, 'professional vision' and the tobacco user as a site of governmental intervention
Mair, M. (2011). Deconstructing behavioural classifications: tobacco control, 'professional vision' and the tobacco user as a site of governmental intervention. CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH, 21(2), 129-140. doi:10.1080/09581596.2010.529423
2010
A Comparison of Qualitative and Quantitative Reasoning in the ESRC's National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM): Research Methods in Practice
Greiffenhagen, C., Mair, M., & Sharrock, W. W. (2010). A Comparison of Qualitative and Quantitative Reasoning in the ESRC's National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM): Research Methods in Practice. Southampton: ESRC.
Disorder, participation and the state: an ethnomethodological investigation of the governance of antisocial behaviour in a peripheral english housing estate
Mair, M. (2010). Disorder, participation and the state: an ethnomethodological investigation of the governance of antisocial behaviour in a peripheral english housing estate. (PhD Thesis, University of Manchester, UK).
2008
Studying interaction in undergraduate tutorials: results from a small-scale evaluation
Shawa, L., Carey, P., & Mair, M. (2008). Studying interaction in undergraduate tutorials: results from a small-scale evaluation. TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION, 13(6), 703-714. doi:10.1080/13562510802525437
Evaluating Mihealth Newcastle: assessing the effectiveness of new health information and communication technology in providing support to patients with breast cancer receiving treatment in Newcastle
KIerans, C., & Mair, M. (2008). Evaluating Mihealth Newcastle: assessing the effectiveness of new health information and communication technology in providing support to patients with breast cancer receiving treatment in Newcastle. Liverpool: Liverpool University. Retrieved from http://www.mihealth.info/Downloads/Mihealth_Newcastle_evaluation_report_2008.pdf
2007
Formal health services in informal settings: findings from the Preston Men's Health Project
Kierans, C., Robertson, S., & Mair, M. D. (2007). Formal health services in informal settings: findings from the Preston Men's Health Project. The Journal of Men's Health & Gender, 4(4), 440-447. doi:10.1016/j.jmhg.2007.08.006
Descriptions as data: developing techniques to elicit descriptive materials in social research
Mair, M., & Kierans, C. (2007). Descriptions as data: developing techniques to elicit descriptive materials in social research. Visual Studies, 22(2), 120-136. doi:10.1080/14725860701507057
Critical reflections on the field of tobacco research: The role of tobacco control in defining the tobacco research agenda
Mair, M., & Kierans, C. (2007). Critical reflections on the field of tobacco research: The role of tobacco control in defining the tobacco research agenda. Critical Public Health, 17(2), 103-112. doi:10.1080/09581590601045204
Critical reflections on the field of tobacco research: The role of tobacco control in defining the tobacco research agenda
Mair, M., & Kierans, C. (2007). Critical reflections on the field of tobacco research: The role of tobacco control in defining the tobacco research agenda. Critical Public Health, 17(2), 103-112. doi:10.1080/09581590601045204
2006
Lies, damned lies and statistics? Reliability and personal accounts of smoking among young people
Mair, M., Barlow, A., Woods, S. E., Kierans, C., Milton, B., & Porcellato, L. (2006). Lies, damned lies and statistics? Reliability and personal accounts of smoking among young people. Social Science & Medicine, 62(4), 1009-1021. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.07.002
Lies, damned lies and statistics? Reliability and personal accounts of smoking among young people
Mair, M., Barlow, A., Woods, S. E., Kierans, C., Milton, B., & Porcellato, L. (2006). Lies, damned lies and statistics? Reliability and personal accounts of smoking among young people. SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE, 62(4), 1009-1021. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.07.002
Evaluating Mihealth Liverpool: Assessing the Effectiveness of New Health Information and Communication Technology in Providing Support to Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Treatment in Liverpool
Mair, M., & Kierans, C. (2006). Evaluating Mihealth Liverpool: Assessing the Effectiveness of New Health Information and Communication Technology in Providing Support to Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Treatment in Liverpool. Liverpool. Retrieved from http://www.mihealth.info/Downloads/MihealthReport_July_2006_V2.pdf
Mihealth: Understanding Local Contexts of Use in HICTs for Breast Cancer
Kierans, C., & Mair, M. (2006). Mihealth: Understanding Local Contexts of Use in HICTs for Breast Cancer. Health Information on the Internet, 54(1), 3-5.