This week’s readings on
participant observation got me thinking about the means by which researchers
gain acceptance in their subject communities. Knight, when discussing face to
face interviews, explains how a researcher’s appearance affects the willingness
of interviewees to participate and disclose information (Knight, 2002, p.54).
Similarly, Luker states that the appearance of a researcher “telegraphs”
important details about the researcher to the subjects of study, which in turn,
can affect the subjects’ behaviour (Luker, 2008, p.178-179). Luker uses the
example of a provocatively dressed woman interviewing a Morman Republican.
Shaffir argues that appearance in ethnographic studies can be used
strategically. He describes an ethnographic study he conducted of Orthodox Jews
in which he regularly wore a yarmulke and attended religious ceremonies
(Shaffir, 1999, p.682). Shaffir admits, despite his forthrightness about his
reason for being in the community, there was still an element of deception, as
members of the community began to believe he was part of their religious
community (1999, p.682). Shaffir states that ethnographic research should be
transparent and include discussions on the “messier” and more “ethically
challenging” aspects of research (1999, p.685). I wonder if there is a need in
ethnographic and participant observation research to include notes or perhaps
pictures of researchers to get a sense of their appearance during data
collection. In my limited exposure to ethnography I have found that information
on how the researcher is dressed and the strategies the researcher uses to
blend in are generally invisible. These are of course important elements that
can be used to evaluate and understand a study.
Knight, P.T. (2002). Small-Scale
Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Luker, K. (2008). Salsa
dancing into the social sciences: Research in an age of info-glut.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Shaffir, W. (1999). Doing ethnography. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 28(6), 676-686.
Shaffir, W. (1999). Doing ethnography. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 28(6), 676-686.
Interesting. I had never thought of this before, but the readings do support this. I don't know if photos are necessary, but details on how the observer fit in to the group being studied should definitely be part of methodology sections. Thanks for pointing this out.
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