Ethics & Relativism at my scene

At this stage of ethnographic fieldwork at my cultural scene, I’m not exactly sure what it is I will be studying or looking for. But one thing I am quite sure of: how ever I study or interact with my cultural scene, it will be done with a relativistic perspective. My goal throughout the semester will be to observe rather than to judge. At all times, it will be my goal to suspend my own standards and values. This is not an easy task, but it is an approach that I have been trying to perfect in my own life for a number of years.

Because I am feeling so fuzzy about the actual focus of my study at my cultural scene, I am also unclear what ethical concerns I will encounter. In considering my scene, I can’t anticipate any special ethical issues. I don’t know if I will be actually approaching people with questions or what. If I must interact with my subjects, I will need to inform them of my purpose and have them sign a consent form from Boise State’s Office of Research Compliance.

If it all possible, I hope to practice an autoethnographic method of research. As stated by Dr. House in the special instructions that accompanied this assignment, autoenthnography implies that I am my own informant. As I understand this, I will make observations and perhaps deduce certain things from those observations. The observations will be of individuals who cannot be identified by any information I provide in my blog. My “subjects” will be sheltered by anonymity. In this way, I will be true to the American Anthropological Association’s code of ethics to “do no harm,” as describe on page 90 of the 7th Edition of Humanity; An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology.