Culture & Social Life Chapter 3: Fieldwork and Ethnography

Ethnographic Fieldwork

A primary research strategy in cultural anthropology that typically involves living and interacting with a community of poeple over an extended period to better understand their lived

Salvage Ethnography

Fieldwork strategy developed by Franz Boas to collect cultural, material, linguistic, and biological information about Native American populations being devastated by the westward expansion of European settlers

Participant Observation

A key anthropological research strategy involving both participation in and observation of the daily life of the poeple being studied

Reflexivity

A critical self-examination of the role the anthropologist plays and an awareness that one’s identity affects one’s fieldwork and theoretical analyses

Engaged Anthropology

Application of the research strategies and analytical perspectives of anthropology to address concrete challenges facing local communities and the world at large

Anthropologist’s Toolkit

The tools needed to conduct fieldwork, including information, perspectives, strategies, and even equipment

Quantitative Data

Statistical information about a community that can be measured and compared

Qualitative Data

Descriptive data drawn from nonstatistical sources, including personal stories, interviews, life histories, and participant observation

Rapport

Relationships of trust and familiarity that an anthropologist develops with members of the community under a study

Key Informant

A community member who advises the anthropologist on community issues, provides feedback, and warns against cultural miscues. Also called Cultural Consultant

Life History

A form of interview that traces the biography of a person over time, examining changes in the person’s life and illuminating the interlocking network of relationships in the community

Survey

An informant-gathering tool for quantitative data

Kinship Analysis

A fieldwork strategy of examining interlocking relationships of power built on marriage and family ties

Social Network Analysis

A method of examining relationships in a community, often conducted by identifying whomm poeople turn to in times of need

Field Notes

The anthropologist’s written observations and reflections on places, practices, events, and interviews

Mapping

The analysis of the physical and/or geographic space where fieldwork is being conducted

Built Environment

The intentionally designed featured of human settlement, including buildings, transportation and public service infrastructure, and public spaces

Zeros

Elements of a story or a picture that are not told or seen and yet offer key insights into issues and public service infrastructure, and public spaces

Mutual Transformation

The potential for both the anthropologist and the members of the community being studied to be transformed by the interactions of fieldwork

Emic

An approach to gathering data that investigated how local people think and how they understand the world

Etic

Description of local behavior and beliefs from the anthropologist’s perspective in ways that can be compared across cultures

Polyvocality

The practice of using many different voices in ethnographic writing and research question development, allowing the reader to hear more directly from the people in the study

Informed Consent

A key strategy for protecting those being studied by ensuring that they are fully informed of the goals of the project and have clearly indicated their consent to participate

Anonymity

Protecting the identities of the people involved in a study by changing or omitting their names or other identifying characteristics