In Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn,Karen McCarthy Brown studied practitioners of the Vodou religion living in the United States.However,she went far beyond the usual role of scientific observer and became a member of the religious group she was studying.She also gave her key informant,Mama Lola,veto power over certain elements of her work.Why would this be helpful?

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Allowing Mama Lola to have some control over the content of her work showed a level of respect for the Vodou practitioners and their cultural practices. It also helped Brown to set aside any preconceived notions or biases she may have had, allowing her to better understand the religion on its own terms. This approach was more likely to result in a comprehensive and accurate study, rather than one where the researcher was imposing their own biases or assumptions onto the data.

In Mama Lola: a Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn,Karen McCarthy Brown