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Published on: October 3, 2016
Personal Safety in Dangerous Places
Journal of Contemporary Ethnography
|October 8, 2009
Summary
This study offers practical safety strategies for conducting ethnographic research in dangerous environments. Implementing these techniques can protect researchers and potentially reduce field setting violence.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Criminology
Background:
- Personal safety in fieldwork is under-addressed in academic literature.
- Ethnographic research often occurs in high-risk environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide practical strategies for conducting ethnographic research safely in dangerous settings.
- To outline methods for mitigating risks and ensuring researcher well-being.
Main Methods:
- Drawing on extensive ethnographic experience in high-risk urban settings.
- Developing and applying specific techniques for field safety.
- Integrating safety protocols with standard qualitative research methods.
Main Results:
- Projecting an appropriate demeanor aids in securing protectors and establishing rapport.
- Creating a safety zone and compatible roles minimizes risks.
- Specific strategies exist for managing dangerous encounters and police contact.
- Researcher presence may decrease, not increase, violence in the field setting.
Conclusions:
- Ethnographic research can be conducted safely in dangerous settings through strategic planning and execution.
- Implementing these safety measures protects researchers and potentially benefits the field environment.
- These strategies enhance the overall integrity and feasibility of qualitative research in challenging contexts.
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