1st Edition
Doing Anthropological Research A Practical Guide
Doing Anthropological Research provides a practical toolkit for carrying out research. It works through the process chapter by chapter, from the planning and proposal stage to methodologies, secondary research, ethnographic fieldwork, ethical concerns, and writing strategies. Case study examples are provided throughout to illustrate the particular issues and dilemmas that may be encountered. This handy guide will be invaluable to upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying or intending to use anthropological methods in their research.
Introduction: about Doing Anthropological Research (Natalie Konopinski) 1. Getting started: the search for anthropological questions (Tobias Kelly) 2. Planning your research project (Laura Jeffery and Natalie Konopinski) 3. On the primary importance of secondary research (Neil Thin) 4. Doing research: anthropology and ethnographic fieldwork (Joost Fontein) 5. Doing research: fieldwork practicalities (Joost Fontein) 6. Ethics (Ian Harper) 7. Sorting things out: organizing and interpreting your data (Lotte Hoek) 8. Communicating the research and writing up (John Harries) Conclusion: After the dissertation (Natalie Konopinski).
Biography
Natalie Konopinski received her PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, UK, and has taught anthropological research methods to undergraduate and postgraduate students. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at George Mason University, USA.
"A clear and concise introduction to the issues faced when preparing, conducting and presenting anthropological research. For students, the book might serve as a pre-emptive strike against many common problems, as well as a companion to the joys of conducting good research." - Edward Simpson, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, UK
"This volume by experienced anthropologists offers a wealth of sound, succinct advice on how to plan and conduct ethnographic fieldwork, how to organize and analyze information, and how to write up coherently. Aspiring anthropologists should ignore this book at their peril." - Olaf H. Smedal, University of Bergen, Norway
"The volume contains a revealing and concise compilation of issues relevant for conducting a research project and is a good companion throughout the overall progress. Its strength lies in the authors’ experiences as teachers and supervisors of student research projects across many areas of social and cultural anthropology. Hence, the book succeeds in sketching many of the highs and lows, the dilemmas and challenges that students are likely to face while carrying out research. To conclude, it can be said that Doing Anthropological Research is a valuable read for students who are preparing, conducting, and writing an anthropology research project." – Claudia Konrad, University of Trier, Germany
