RJ9(a): Response to Fieldworking Chapter 3
I found chapter 3 to be somewhat in disagreement with chapter 1. Where chapter one focused mostly around the idea of objectivity, this chapter seemed to somewhat shun the thought. Personally, I agree with chapter one, but it is true that there is no possibility of perfect objectivity from research. In order to be close enough to something to effectively study it, one will make some sort of influence on the culture’s specific practices for the time he is conducting his research. The fieldworking technique I have drawn from this is the ability to identify my influence on the subject(s) and either find how it would turn out without my influence, leave it out completely, or at least mention that I influenced the behavior recorded.
From the essays I found that when a researcher fails to blend with society, (in these cases, with their society of origin) he is either rejected by the society and can learn nothing about its common practices, or he approaches the research in entirely the wrong way and obtains no information of value at his own fault.
