Reviewed by Craig Soderberg, Dallas, TX
A tool for field researchers, this book presents various methods for collecting cultural data, providing direction to the researcher throughout the process. This field guide is distinctive in that it focuses on data-gathering methods from an insider’s (or emic) perspective.
Ch. 1 discusses the motivation for cultural research, including crosscultural comparisons, pragmatic functions (e.g. literacy or health development), translation, ethnography, problem-oriented field research (e.g. dealing with irrigation systems or agricultural practices), and theory construction. Carol McKinney explains the preparation necessary before fieldwork can begin, which includes selecting a research topic, designing the research, reviewing the literature, and developing a proposal. A fieldworker must begin with a clear understanding of why the research is being conducted.
In Ch. 6, M gives strategies for language learning, including the useful ‘Language learning kit’. In Ch. 7, she presents helpful suggestions for organizing an ethnographic record. Ch. 8 supplies guidelines for informal interviewing, and Ch. 9 presents guidelines for structured interviewing. Ch. 10 offers advice related to statistical analysis, and Ch. 11 discusses how to use demographic data. In Ch. 12, M discusses how mapping relates to field research, and in Ch. 13 she talks about how to study material culture. Ch. 14 identifies various types of kinship systems and discusses how to study kinship. Ch. 15 is a logical progression from kinship into marriage, descent, and residence: M discusses types of marriage and questions to ask when studying marriage. Ch. 16 discusses how to collect and analyze life histories as well as related ethnographic issues that may arise. Ch. 17 investigates types of social networks and provides suggestions on ways to study these networks. Ch. 18 moves on to the cognitive approach to worldview and how to collect cognitive data. In Ch. 19, M discusses types of values and appropriate ways to study values.
Ch. 20 deals with oral traditions such as folktales, proverbs, riddles, performances, and origin narratives. This chapter also provides suggestions for collecting oral traditions. Ch. 21 discusses ways to analyze oral traditions. Ch. 22 considers music, a specific type of oral art. Ch. 23 explores data collection through rapid assessments, Ch. 24 evaluates social impact analyses, and Ch. 25 introduces various cultural research methods. Ch. 26 deals with the completion of the fieldwork and the write-up of research results.
A detailed index will make this a useful reference tool, and an extensive bibliography will serve as a guide for those who seek a deeper knowledge of the field. This book will be a valuable resource to anyone conducting cultural field research, whether the primary focus is anthropological or linguistic.