Ethnographic Fieldwork In Anthropology

Ethnographic fieldwork is necessary to capture and record a certain culture at a given period in time and is an essential way of research for cultural anthropology. It captures the raw and unfiltered world we live in at this very moment, and has no intention of simplifying or censoring data. However, the data concluded from fieldwork is at times too subjective, and is at the scrutiny of other researchers and the public eye. Any wrong interpretation of data, and another misconception can be conceived from another misconception which gives the researcher doing the fieldwork an important role.

Ethnographic fieldwork helps shed light on the concept cultural relativism; in fact the two work hand in hand. Sterk said that “learning more about the

women and gaining a better understanding of their lives also raised many ethical questions” (Sterk, 25). Nelson’s fieldwork with Eskimos helped give not only himself but the world an understanding of the connection Native American people have with the natural world when he quoted an elder saying “Each animal knows way more than you do” (Nelson 91). Fieldwork plays an important role in determining the perception of each and every culture across the world and helping others understand differences within cultures.

Ethnographic fieldwork has some drawbacks to gathering research as well.

Anthropologists studying dangerous cultures such as prostitution are now placing themselves into an environment where they could be at risk to drugs, violence, and crime. Sterk recalls that one of her “most scariest experiences occurred before she knew to work through the pimps, and one such man had some of his friends follow her on her way home one night. She never knew what plans they had in mind for her but she was fortunately able to escape with just a few bruises” (Sterk, 21). Not only just a few bruises, but there were many accounts in which Sterk was asked to do “illegal activities such as holding drugs or money a woman had stolen from a customer” (Sterk, 25). This type of research not only puts yourself in physical danger, but as well as emotional danger. After being in the field for a couple years, Sterk couldn’t cope “when so many people were dying from AIDS” and “was unable to ignore the devastating impact of this disease; she needed an emotional break” (Sterk, 28). Another fear that is associated with ethnographic fieldwork is the fear of submerging yourself too far into your research. Sterk admits to “becoming too involved in a woman’s life and almost adopted her and her family” (Sterk, 28). As a researcher doing fieldwork, your goal isn’t to get too attached and involved in the field you are working in to the point where it could tamper with your own data which is another reason why data

that comes from fieldwork is not only sometimes dangerous to get but is also questionable.

The main concern for researchers when it comes to ethnographic fieldwork is reliability.

The problem some researchers have with fieldwork is that you can’t validate the data by replicating the experiment like you would do in a science laboratory, and achieving the same results to prove whether or not this type of research is valid. The dependency on just one person’s observation makes the validity of ethnographic fieldwork very questionable and way too subjective. Also, depending on individuals you just met to give you the most accurate and reliable information to their own culture is a concern as well. However, qualitative data and testimonies are necessary pieces of data for cross comparison with quantitative data. Both forms of data compliment each other’s weaknesses. Qualitative data has the important purpose of easily making direct correlations to other problems that stem from the original problem. For example, Sterk’s interviews with prostitutes can give an answer onto why cases of STD’s such as HIV have been increasing in urban communities which is something that quantitative data can’t do right away. Ethnographic fieldwork’s purpose is to open the door for conversation, beyond charts and graphs, it’s primary goal is to answer the question

why.