Ethnographer Mitchell Duneier spent five years hanging out with booksellers on the streets of Manhattan.His role as both researcher and participant provides a great example of the importance of:
A) maintaining firm boundaries between the role of researcher and the role of participant.
B) staying true to the ethical principles of the scientific method in our research.
C) critically assessing how our role as researchers may affect the people we study.
D) maintaining distance from those we study so that our results are not contaminated.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Duneier's work demonstrates the importance of critically assessing how our role as researchers may affect the people we study. By immersing himself in the world of the booksellers and becoming a participant as well as a researcher, he was better able to understand their experiences and perspectives. However, he also had to be mindful of how his presence and actions may have affected their behavior and attitudes, and take steps to mitigate any negative effects. This highlights the need for reflexivity and ethical considerations in research. A, B, and D are not as relevant to this particular example.

Ethnographer Mitchell Duneier Spent Five Years Hanging Out with Booksellers