Methodological Possibilities

In both my field study prep class and my ethnographic methods class for anthropology, I have recently been really noticing the value behind different methodologies. When I first began to hear about methods in anthropology, I often felt skeptical about the practicality or usefulness. In the "hard" sciences methodologies such as experimentation or the use of numerical formulas are concrete, and it is fairly easy to see how these could be put to use to further a hypothesis. However, when one is doing research qualitatively, things are expected to have error, and to include guesswork. At first, I considered whether this could indicate inaccuracy or worthlessness. However, as my understanding of anthropology deepened, I realized qualitative work is, in fact, very valuable, and with the methods practices I have been doing this semester I have become even more solidified in this opinion. Questions or exercises patterned specifically to know better the human mind and human emotions are just as significant as the scientific experiments that can test biological samples.

For example, I have noticed that my methods practices have especially helped me to see how I can use informants to define specific aspects of their culture, and to map out where people place value. Since I will be unfamiliar with the culture I am studying, this is vital. When I practiced free-listing, pile sorting, and ranking methodologies, I asked a friend to list every type of education should could think of. This led to follow up questions about how she defined education, which was further specified when she sorted her list into categorical piles. Furthermore, when she ranked her list from most important to least, I was able to see where she placed value in a specific part of her society. Similarly, when I used scale inquiry on BYU campus to ask about gender roles and education, specifically through the scale question "It is more important for males to graduate from college than for females - strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, or strongly disagree," I was able to infer social value through the answers my subjects gave.

I am beginning to see the possibilities a variety of methodologies hold for information gathering within the field. As Professor Hawkins has been emphasizing, sometimes even one observation, or a particular pattern from one question, or a specific reaction can already garner enough analysis-worthy subject matter for a large part of a senior thesis.

Mishaps in Methodology, and What I've Learned

On Monday I had the privilege of interviewing a Ghanaian girl from my ward for my methods practice. The experience was both rewarding and frustrating, and ultimately I was grateful for the practice, because it exposed me a little bit more to how much effort qualitative research really requires.

Why was it rewarding?

I could not help feeling exhilarated as I learned about Ghana from a native Ghanaian, and from real first-hand accounts. It made my project seem so much more relevant, even if only to my own consciousness, and reminded me why ethnography is so exciting. For that small sliver of time I was able to somewhat break out of the limited scope of my immediate worldview. It reminded me of what I heard in Contemporary Theory last semester - language transcends both time and place. Through my interviewee's words I was in a small, limited way transported to another society with new rules, and norms. It was also very relieving to hear from a Ghanaian, that she thought my project would likely be a very good research topic, and a contemporary issue.

Why was it frustrating?

I began to realize that interviewing is a skill that requires a LOT of practice. I had troubles forming my questions in a way where they would not be leading to specific answers, or leaning one way or another. I was awkward when there was silence, and instead of hesitating a little, or subtly prompting for an extended answer, I would rush on to the next question. Sometimes, I would even voice my own inferences in the form of a question, which I realized could have been very leading. I can only imagine how much more difficult interviews might prove to be in Ghana, compared to one that was already hard and took place here at BYU.

Fortunately, I am just a beginner, and have plenty of time to practice my new tools of methodology. For my field project in Ghana, where I hope interviewing will be a big part of my methods, I am definitely going to work on framing effective questions, and disciplining my own behavior as the interviewer in a way that will garner the best possible results.

These are a few of the notes I collected:

#6:To -----, the social system was simple – the two extremes of rich and poor, and then the average middle, not several layers in between. Its seems that it is important to the wealthy to appear wealthy and show their wealth. They do this by sending their kids to well-known and pricey schools, and by giving money to the less fortunate.

#7:----- painted a picture very different from America. Americans are stereotypically capitalistic – each for their own. Their own hard work will benefit them and them alone. However, ----- states that Ghanaians have a more communal outlook. She could go to her neighbors for food when she was lacking, and would be treated as a family member.

#8:For rural children to gain a university education, they would have to migrate to the urban areas. This could be a problem if they want to stay near family to help. Having no universities in nearby villages presents a problem.