Doing Ethnographic Research. Kimberly Kirner
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most important choices we make as researchers and should be carefully considered.
At the end of this chapter, you’ll take the research topic that you developed in Chapter 1 (The Basics of Research Design) and develop both a comprehensive preliminary assessment of risk to your future human subjects and your plan to minimize these risks (integrating ethics with your project).
At the end of Chapter 2, you will be asked to complete a Self- or Peer-Assessment related to Activities 2.5, 2.6, and 2.7.
Chapter Learning Objectives
Students will be able to do the following:
Explain what ethics are and why they are important, as well as provide examples of ethical codes
Describe the responsibilities researchers have to the people we study, to scholarship and science, and to the public at large
Explain how ethical dilemmas occur despite ethical codes and think through complex ethical dilemmas
Identify, describe, and problem solve for potential problems concerning recruitment
Identify, describe, and problem solve for potential problems concerning population and positionality
Identify, describe, and problem solve for potential problems concerning risk assessment and management
At the end of Chapter 2, you will be asked to complete a Self- or Peer- Assessment related to the last activity.
Activity 2.1: Personal Ethics Self-Evaluation (Personal Reflection)
This activity will help you reflect on the meaning of the word ethics.
What do you think ethics are, and why do you think they are important?
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Activity 2.2: Operationalizing the AAA Code of Ethics
Background: Professional standards tend to be broadly applicable to a wide range of contexts. They cannot anticipate all specific circumstances in which researchers will work but rather seek to guide a process by which professionals can think about their research and encourage professionals to hold themselves accountable to their professional associations and their participants.
Connection: Researchers are held accountable in defining the particulars of their research project, from inception to completion. It’s important that you know how to apply the professional code of ethics for your field.
Building on Activity 1.5, this activity will help you construct and justify operational terms, actively unpacking important language in the American Anthropological Association (AAA) Code of Ethics.
Key Terms and Concepts
Ethical codes
Professional standards
Operational definitions
Instructions
In the area provided, use the prompts to operationalize the AAA Code of Ethics statements, followed by your justification (reasoning).
Common Mistakes
Common mistakes students make when operationalizing terms:
Insufficient clarity: The statement or term isn’t fully operationalized—it remains vague.
Insufficient attention to bias: The operational description is based on the researcher’s assumptions, rather than considering how their biases may be incorrect.
Insufficient flexibility: The operational description is so narrow that it would not apply to a range of research circumstances.
Ask Yourself
What do I think is the best way to approach this task?
Am I monitoring my understanding? Have I backed up to reread a section to better understand content?
Sample Problem
“No code or set of guidelines can anticipate unique circumstances or direct actions in specific situations.”
Term: Unique circumstances
Example
Operationalized term: Unique circumstances are facts or conditions particular to my specific research question, field site, and population studied.
Justification: Each researcher’s question is crafted, and the study population and place are selected for a specific purpose, which can vary across disciplines and problems studied. These specific facts and conditions for each research project can make different researchers choose different actions in response to ethical dilemmas they face.
Non-example
Operationalized term: Unique circumstances are whatever I’m researching.
Justification: Researchers are focused on their research question. So ethics is different based on every researcher.
Problem 1
“Anthropological researchers must be open about the purpose(s), potential impacts, and source(s) of support for research projects with funders, colleagues, and persons studied or providing information, and with relevant parties affected by the research.”
Term: Open
Operationalized term:
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Justification:
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Problem 2
“Among the most serious harms that anthropologists should seek to avoid are harm to dignity, and to bodily and material well-being, especially when research is conducted among vulnerable populations.”
Term: Harm to dignity
Operationalized term:
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