Rapport on field site of ethnographic research

It goes without saying that all readers of this book are wonderful, generous, out­going, lovable people who would be welcome in communities around the world. But just in case anyone has doubts about his or her ability to fit in, a few pointers may be in order.

  • Don’t assume that communities closer to home or with cultures most similar to your own will be easier to work in. Sometimes the more you are like the people you are studying, the more they will expect of you and the less toler­ant of your oddities (such as your need to collect data) they will be. It may be the case that the more of a stranger you are, the more people will be likely to help you since they will understand that you really don’t always know what’s going on.
  • By the same token, don’t assume that if you are working in a community very much like your own, you know everything there is to know about fitting in.

Don’t take too much for granted.

  • Do not allow yourself to be ‘captured’ by the first people who make you feel welcome. It is only natural to be relieved when someone – anyone! – talks to you and seems to take an interest in your work. But it is sometimes the case that the ones who step out to do so are the community’s deviants or (perhaps even worse) its self-appointed gatekeepers. Becoming too closely associated with these dubious characters may limit your opportunities to get to know everyone else.
  • Therefore, do make sure that the people who serve as your principal guides to the community are people who are themselves respected and liked.
  • Make every effort to be helpful. Reciprocity goes a long way toward establishing and maintaining rapport. Always be prepared to drive someone to work, baby-sit, loan someone money for groceries, and so forth. You needn’t become an all-purpose servant – after all, you do have your own legitimate agenda, not to mention limitations on your own time and other resources – but don’t be so wedded to your agenda that you neglect to act like a real human being interacting with other humans. Remember that some mutual obligations carry more serious implications than others: agreeing to become a baby’s godparent, for example, is a matter of real gravity in some cultures, and you should carefully consider whether you are up to all the implied responsibilities before you agree. It is probably better to decline respectfully than to accept and then renege on implied promises.
  • Take the time to explain your purposes. It is probably the case that not many peo­ple in a study community will readily understand the scholarly principles under­lying your research, but just about everyone can understand your desire to collect information on issues of common concern. Most people are flattered and pleased that you are interested in them and their way of life, but if there are aspects of their way of life that they don’t want to share, don’t force them to do so. Be sure to explain as well any anticipated outcomes of your research (book, movie, museum display, website, etc.) and be forthright in discussing any possible remu­nerations that might be expected by members of the community.
  • Do not be afraid to express your own point of view. You needn’t become a confrontational pest, but remember that real people aren’t always ‘nice’ – they sometimes disagree, and most people respect someone who is honest enough to have a civil discussion with them. By the same token, don’t become so intent on expressing yourself that you and your opinions become the main topic of community concern.
  • Make sure that you recognize and are respectful of the social conventions that are meaningful to members of the community. Learn what is expected of a person of your age, gender, or race and try to act accordingly. If you hon­estly come to feel that such expectations are degrading or otherwise emo­tionally unacceptable to you, the only reasonable response is to end your research and leave with a brief, polite, but clearly stated explanation.
  • Inform people about the parameters of your participant observation: How long do you intend to stay? Do you plan to stay in touch after you leave, and if so, in what ways?
  • If you have brought your own family to the field site, make sure that all mem­bers are comfortable about interacting with their peers while you go about your own activities.
  • If you are working as part of a research team, make sure that you do not become a clubby in-group. Each member of the team should strive to become as much a part of the host community as feasible.

Source: Angrosino Michael (2008), Doing Ethnographic and Observational Research, SAGE Publications Ltd; 1st edition.

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