Research Methods in Indigenous Contexts (eBook)

Prof. Dr. Arnold Groh has conducted field research in indigenous contexts since 1987, and since 2001, he has trained students for this purpose. He has headed excursions to indigenous peoples in Indonesia (Borneo: Punan; West Papua: Dani), India (Soliga), Latin America (Panama: Emberá; Peru: Yagua), Laos (Akha; Lanten), and in several African countries (Cameroon: Bagyeli; Uganda: Batwa; South Africa: Venda; Ethiopia: Hamer; Benin/Togo: Somba/Tamberma; Senegal: Bassari; Eastern Congo Basin: Bambuti). He heads the reseach institution Structual Analysis of Cultural Systems, which is in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economical and Social Council. Arnold Groh received his PhD in Psychology from the University of Bielefeld, he has been teaching as a Visiting Professor at the University of the Arts, Berlin, and he did his habilitation at the Technical University of Berlin, where he is currently an Associate Professor.

1. Introduction.- 1.1 Indigenous Contexts.- 1.1.1 Transgenerational Traumata.- 1.2 Cultural Theories and Cultural Dominance.- 1.3 Transcultural perspectives and conceptualisations.- 1.4 Synthesis and dominance - the mechanisms of change.- 2. The legal framework of research in indigenous contexts.- 2.1 Historical aspects.- 2.2 Acknowledgement of indigenous identity.- 2.3 Right to self-determination.- 2.4 Protection of culture.- 2.4.1 The Role of Language within Indigenous Peoples’ Cultural Rights.- 2.4.2 Indigenous Culture and Intellectual Property.- 2.5 Revitalisation of culture.- 2.6 Cultural autonomy in education and lifestyle.- 2.7 Reflection of culture in media.- 2.8 Land rights.- 2.8.1 Protection of territories.- 2.8.2 Land use.- 2.8.3 Mitigation of adverse impact.- 2.8.4 Right to redress and compensation.- 2.8.5 Indigenous cultures and borders.- 3. Methodology - how to optimally collect data in the fields.- 3.1 History of transcultural field encounters.- 3.2 Field encounter as quasi-experimentation.- 3.3 Researchers’ influence and philosophy of science.- 3.3.1 Vulnerability and resilience.- 3.4 Epistemology.- 3.4.1 Qualitative and quantitative methods.- 3.4.2 Validity.- 3.4.3 Reliability.- 3.4.4 Objectivity.- 3.4.5 Ethical aspects.- 3.5 Minimally-invasive techniques.- 3.5.1 Total immersion.- 3.5.2 Rescue work.- 4. Field research in indigenous contexts.- 4.1 The scientist as a psychological being.- 4.1.1 Researchers and their culture of origin.- 4.1.2 Rationality and irrationality.- 4.2 Meta-perspectives.- 4.3 Transcultural competency.- 4.4 Education and training.- 4.4.1 Learning how to prepare research in indigenous contexts.- 4.5 Culturally sustainable field research.- 4.5.1 Practical aspects.- 4.5.2 Being prepared for tropical diseases.- Epilogue.