Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
2
Walking in Rhythm
Anthropological Concepts
Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter; therefore, ye
soft pipes, play on.
—John Keats
Ethnography is what ethnographers actually do in the field. Textbooks such as
this one; Agar (1980, 1992); Goetz and LeCompte (1984); McCurdy, Spradley,
and Shandy (2004); Pelto (1970); Pelto and Pelto's (1978) exemplary work;
Spradley (1979, 1980); Spradley and McCurdy (1989); Werner and Schoepfle
(1987a, 1987b); and many others—together with lectures—can initiate the
newcomer to the field and refresh the experienced ethnographer, but actual
fieldwork experience has no substitute. A well-trained ethnographer balances
formal education, including textbooks and classroom instruction, with time in
the field (Lareau, 1987). How the ethnographer conducts a study speaks most
precisely to the question of what is ethnography.
This chapter introduces some of the most important concepts that guide
ethnographers in their fieldwork. As the title suggests, these concepts can set
the rhythm and stride of the fieldwork—much as music can help a hiker
develop a rhythmic, smooth pace that speeds the journey and eases strain (for
a discussion of rhythm and pace, see Fletcher & Rawlins, 2002). With experi-
ence, these concepts become automatic, guiding the ethnographer's strategy
and behavior in the field. This chapter will help socialize the new ethnogra-
pher into the culture under study through a focus on fundamental ethnographic
concepts and research values. In conjunction with Chapter 3, which discusses
methods and techniques, this discussion should also help the initiate use the
right tools for each task—at the right time. Experienced ethnographers will
recognize parallels to their own knowledge. A discussion of the folklore of
fieldwork and the instruments of the trade can help crystallize their experience
and refine their skills.
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