Field Techniques

The Six Steps

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There are seven steps in systematic culture study. Before you start, look at the explanation about equipment, and the rationale behind the order in which these may be attempted. 

Step One: Develop a map of the village or area you will work in.

Step Two: The house census consisting of eliciting the names of those who live in each house.

Step Three: Gathering the relationships of those living in the houses called genealogies.

Step Four: Careful observation and recording of normal "incidents" in the tribe.

Introduction, Prerequisites, On Objectivity

Step Five: Filing and cross referencing all culture data. This is now normally computerized using a program such as Ethnograph, but paper notes are still very necessary.

Step Six: Interviewing people for their perspective of their culture.

Interviewing: Introduction Mentality Eight Techniques Questions to self Questions to locals

Step Seven: Concluding from the information gathered.