1. Fieldwork Ethnology Ethnography
IBSCA

2. Experiential Fieldwork
Data collection method used by anthropologists to explain how, with what, and why people in different parts of the world behave the way they do

3. History of Anthropological Fieldwork
Early anthropologists theorized on second-hand data from untrained observers
Franz Boas formalized the process of experiential fieldwork as a research methodology
Prior to 1960s, ethnographies rarely mentioned research methodologies
Recent ethnographies include discussion of fieldwork study, data collection, and analysis of results

4. Fieldwork Methods/Concerns
Each fieldwork experience is unique, however each shares similar concerns
Preparing for fieldwork
Gaining acceptance in the community
Selecting the most appropriate data-gathering techniques
Understanding how to operate within the local political structure
Taking precautions against investigator bias
Choosing knowledgeable informants
Coping with culture shock
Learning a new language
Willingness to reevaluate findings in the light of new evidence

5. Preparing for Fieldwork
Fieldwork is not as romantic as it seems
Requirements:
A minimum of a year’s lead time
Funding from an agency that supports anthropological research
Proper health precautions
Governmental clearance or permission from the host government
Proficiency in the local language
Taking care of personal detail before leaving home

6. Stages of Field Research
Same basic stages for all, although each experience is unique
Selecting a research problem
Formulating a research design
Collecting the data
Analyzing the data
Interpreting the data
* Often many theoretical and methodological issues interfere with the 5 stages listed

7. Selecting a Research Problem
Fieldworkers have moved away from general ethnographies
Shift has resulted in the formulation of hypotheses that are tested in the field
Example: Kenya Kinship Study hypothesis – As Kenya becomes more urbanized, extended family interaction will be replaced by more nuclear family interaction

8. Formulating a Research Design
Fieldworker must decide how to measure two major variables in the hypothesis
KKS variables – urbanization and family interaction
Independent variable = variable capable of affecting change in the other variable (urbanization)
Dependent variable = variable whose value is dependent on the other variable (family interaction)
Dependent variable must be defined more specifically so that it can be measured quantitatively (residence patterns, visitation patterns, mutual assistance, formal family gatherings)
Important to control for extraneous factors that can interfere with testing the hypothesis. In KKS, controlled for ethnic group (tribal affiliation) by using only one ethnic group for both rural and urban samples

9. Collecting Data
Must determine appropriate data-gathering technique for measuring the variable
KKS used three principal data-gathering techniques:
Participant-observation
Structured interviews
Day histories (a technique modified for the study)

10. Analyzing the Data
The data collected must be analyzed, categorized, and measurements compared
Data analysis for KKS:
Analyzed content for day histories
Various time segments were categorized into one of nine types of social interaction
Counted the number of minutes per 24-hour period that each interviewee spend in family interaction
Compared minutes spent in each type of family interaction for urban and rural samples (no difference)

11. Interpreting the Data
Involves explaining or interpreting the findings