Los Angeles Valley College Etic Fieldwork Project Discussion

Prompt 

For the Etic Fieldwork Project, you’ll visit a community that you do not belong to in order to interview a few members. Then, you’ll write 1-2 page research paper that explains the beliefs, practices, and worldview of that community. 

Students are expected to achieve the following:

Specifically define and identify the cultural community or movement

Apply the theoretical approaches and/or arguments from a variety of other anthropologists to their own fieldwork in a meaningful and complex way

Clearly describe ethnographic research methods by demonstrating an understanding of participant observation

• Visit the community at least one time (preferably 2-3 visits)
• Conduct a series of interviews with diverse members of the community
• Forge a personal connection with at least one contact in the community
• Employ as many participant observation methods as possible
• Obtain  consent (using the designated consent forms) from  all informants and participants (turn in  here); make final work available to the community