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Anthropological Fieldwork

Anthropological Fieldwork. Fieldwork & Methods. Preparation for the Field Adapting to the Field Situation Establishing a Role Developing Rapport Methods & Techniques of Data Gathering. What Preparations Must Be Made?. Define a Research Problem Select a Research Location

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Anthropological Fieldwork

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  1. Anthropological Fieldwork

  2. Fieldwork & Methods • Preparation for the Field • Adapting to the Field Situation • Establishing a Role • Developing Rapport • Methods & Techniques of Data Gathering

  3. What Preparations Must Be Made? • Define a Research Problem • Select a Research Location • Learn the Language • Read Relevant Literature • Seek Advice • Write a Research Proposal • Get Government Permission • Take Medical Precautions

  4. Adapting – 4 Phases • Honeymoon Phase • Anthropologist as “Exotic Outsider” • Critical Period • Anthropologist as “Tolerated Stranger” • Initial Recovery • Anthropologist as “Town Clown” • Adjustment • Anthropologist as “Marginal Native” What About Going Native?

  5. …always a 5th wheel

  6. Culture Shock • Bronislaw Malinowski • Hortense Powdermaker • Napoleon Chagnon

  7. Jean Briggs – Kapluna Daughter

  8. Napoleon Chagnon -- Yanomamo

  9. Exoticizing the Cultural “Other”

  10. First Fieldwork1984-85 i

  11. Entry

  12. Culture Shock

  13. Life Shock

  14. Establishing a Role

  15. Living With a Family

  16. Developing Trust & Rapport • Lack of understanding on what an anthropologist is • Missionary? CIA agent? • Chance events • Getting beneath the surface • Factions

  17. Methods & Techniquesfor Data Gathering • Participant Observation • Key Informants • Collecting Data • Interpretation • Ethics

  18. Participant Observation …the Hallmark of Anthropology

  19. Participation: • Involvement / immersion; subjective • Observation: • Detachment; objective • Etic: • Outsider’s understanding • Emic: • Insider’s understanding

  20. Key Informants

  21. Analytic Informants

  22. Immersed Informants

  23. Collecting Data • Census & Mapping • Interviews • Eliciting Texts: Oral Histories, Folklore, Myths • Genealogies / Kinship • Photography • Field Notes

  24. Mapping, Census & Sampling • Ocotillo, Colima • A small village • 1984-91

  25. Puruarán, Mich. • A large town • 1998- present

  26. Interviewing

  27. Genealogies

  28. Field Notes

  29. Interpretation

  30. Pastores

  31. Issues of Validity & Reliability • Validity: • “Truth” & the mutual construction of knowledge • Reliability: • Robert Redfield vs. Oscar Lewis • Margaret Mead vs. Derrick Freeman • Napoleon Chagnon vs. Patrick Tierney • Rigoberta Menchú vs. David Stoll

  32. AAA Principles of Professional Responsibility • Responsibility to Those Studied: • Rights & interests must be safeguarded • Communicate Aims of the investigation • Right to remain anonymous • No exploitation of informants for personal gain • Reflect on foreseeable repercussions of research & publication • Communicate Anticipated consequences • Reports to sponsors must also be available to those studied • Cooperate with the host community in planning & execution of the research

  33. Responsibility to the Public • Speak out publicly about research results • Responsibility to the Discipline • Behavior should not jeopardize future research • Responsibility to Students • Make students aware of ethical problems • Responsibility to Sponsors • Honest about qualifications and aims; accept no conditions that violate the ethical principles • Responsibility to Own & Host Government • Research should not compromise future research

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