Ethnographic Reflection - 1281 Words

Raybeck describes several adventures and misadventures involving field research in his account of the year and a half he spent in Kelantan. He also discusses the understanding, humility and scars that these experiences may leave behind. Raybeck provides in-depth descriptions of Kelantanese society and culture. He addresses topics such as political structures, the status of women, kinship, linguistics, and economics. Additionally, he demonstrates for us how challenging yet rewarding anthropological fieldwork can be, and we see how he builds rapport in a research setting in order to ensure that the information he acquires is reliable. Two of the main techniques used by Raybeck were learning the language, and interviewing key informants.†¦show more content†¦In fact, this extra effort to blend in with and accept the Kelantanese way of life is what perhaps prevented Raybeck’s presence from having an impact on the culture he was studying. There are many instances throughout the ethnography when the writer appears to be going through culture shock, and the impact of the culture he is studying on him becomes evident. For instance, thed Kelantanese disregard and even contempt of the concept of privacy is something that takes him and his wife some getting used to. Similarly, the ethnographer is confused when their dressing in traditional garb is interpreted as him and his wife’s willingness to convert to Islam. There are other times through his stay when he is expected to take a stand on political and ethical matters, and he finds himself struggling to maintain neutrality yet not earn the contempt of the villagers. Raybeck encountered numerous ethical issues, including but not limited to prostitution, murder, and smuggling. As before, the writer tried his very best to adopt a neutral stand, and participate only minimally and if asked to by the parties involved. Raybeck quickly learns that one’s actions in such matters are what are used to gage one’s loyalty to a specific group or individual within the community. Aware of this impact, he tries to stay asShow MoreRelatedMy Reflection On My Ethnographic Study1153 Words   |  5 Pages For my ethnographic study I chose to interview my schoolmate about her language learning experiences which relate to her culture. The main focuses of this ethnographic study are to enhance the teaching quality and facilitate positive curriculum development through the interview. Last week I had an opportunity to interview a schoolmate of mine, a doctoral degree student who studies in TESOL program at Alliant International University. The name of my schoolmate called April and she is aRead MoreEthnographic Research Essay1404 Words   |  6 Pages Ethnographic research is the scientific description of specific human cultures, foreign to the ethnographer. 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