Epistemology, Fieldwork, and Anthropology

Epistemology, Fieldwork, and Anthropology provides a systematic examination of the empirical foundations of interpretations and grounded theories in anthropology. Olivier de Sardan explores the nature of the links between observed reality and the data produced during fieldwork, and between the data gathered and final interpretative statements. Olivier de Sardan's research asks how anthropologists develop a 'policy of fieldwork', what the advantages and limits of observation are, and if the dangers of over-interpretation and scientific ideologies be minimized. Exploring the space between epistemology and methodology, the book critically juxtaposes Anglo and Francophone writings about fieldwork, plausible interpretations, emicity, reflexivity, comparison, and scientific rigor.

"The author's theoretical erudition and practical research experience more than 40 years ensures that no choice is taken for granted, but is subjected to reasoning. The book carves out a very important niche for itself between more abstract epistemology and a field hand book." - Christian Lund, Professor of Development Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

"Indeed, a basic tenor in the book is a determined search for guarantees that qualitative does not become synonymous with impressionistic." - Peter Geschiere, Professor of Anthropology, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

"Anthropology has been waiting for this book for a long time. It is not only a felicitous marriage between French rationalism and American pragmatism, but also a response to the increasingly tired ideological wars that pit objectivity against subjectivity and culture against text, especially from a North American perspective." - Bob White, Professor of Anthropology, University of Montreal, Canada

Auteur
Author Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan: Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan is Professor of Anthropology (Directeur d études) at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, France and Emeritus Director of Research at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France. Translated by Antoinette Tidjani Alou: Antoinette Tidjani Alou is Professor of French and Comparative Literature at the Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey, Niger.

Contenu

1. Introduction: Empirical Adequacy, Theory, Anthropology 2. The Policy of Fieldwork. Data Production in Anthropology And Qualitative Approaches 3. Emic and the Actors' Point Of View 4. From Observation To Description 5. The Methodological 'I': Implication and Explicitation in Fieldwork 6. Methodological Populism and Ideological Populism in Anthropology 7. The Violence Done To Data: On A Few Figures of Over-Interpretation 8. Common Sense and Scholarly Sense. Conclusion Postface: Researcher And Citizen: Science And Ideology