Paper
Case Study on Anthropological Fieldwork and Ethical Dilemma: The Changing Scenario
presenters
Gangotri Bhuyan
Nationality: India
Residence: India
Pragjyotish College, Gauhati University
Presence:Face to Face/ On Site
Fieldwork forms an inevitable part of research especially in the disciplines of Anthropology and Archaeology. The discipline of anthropology and ethnographic research presents a complex approach in relation to methodologies and theories. The data hence produced are mostly descriptive and they tend to be subject to qualitative analysis. A researcher is supposed to be unbiased, and follow objectivity while interacting with the community. The interpretations provided must be free of ethnocentrism. How far can the researcher stay away from the human emotions and present unbiased data. The idea of confidentiality and consent which seemed core to ethical concerns seems to be losing ground. The development of etic and emic perspectives, establishment of rapport, building trust etc were the foundation of data collection and later interpretation. Are we still concerned about the etic and emic perspectives? Do we still consider the usage of pseudonyms for informants who share sensitive information? How do we look at the data collected from the informants? Are payments in any form allowed for data collection? With more and more institutions making way for digital mode of collecting ethnographic data, are we missing the whole idea behind anthropological research through traditional fieldwork? Ethical dilemmas are not a new thing in anthropological research. The paper is an attempt to discuss the ethical dilemmas and challenges faced during fieldwork amidst different communities in Northeast India at different times.
Keywords:
Confidentiality, ethics, ethnocentrism, fieldwork, Northeast India