The loneliness of the long-distance ethnobotanist: a constructive critique of methods used in an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia

Abstract Background Fieldwork plays an important role in research projects across a variety of fields, especially in the multidisciplinary setting of natural and social science research. As is the nature of fieldwork, things do not always work out as planned, and yet this is not often written about....

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Autores principales:	Barbara C. Seele, Léanne Dreyer, Karen J. Esler, Anthony B. Cunningham
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	BMC 2021
Materias:	Ethnobotanical methods Pastoralists Fieldwork Ethnobiology Researcher well-being Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) Other systems of medicine RZ201-999 Botany QK1-989
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/fef2b4908477452bbcad501506cf4db5
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:fef2b4908477452bbcad501506cf4db52021-11-21T12:40:20ZThe loneliness of the long-distance ethnobotanist: a constructive critique of methods used in an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia10.1186/s13002-021-00492-71746-4269https://doaj.org/article/fef2b4908477452bbcad501506cf4db52021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-021-00492-7https://doaj.org/toc/1746-4269Abstract Background Fieldwork plays an important role in research projects across a variety of fields, especially in the multidisciplinary setting of natural and social science research. As is the nature of fieldwork, things do not always work out as planned, and yet this is not often written about. In response to the need for honest and transparent accounts of fieldwork, the purpose of this article is to review the methods used during fieldwork for the first author’s dissertation research on ethnoveterinary knowledge. Methods To critically review and reflect on the fieldwork methods used for an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia, we compare the theory underpinning each method with the practical reality of implementing the method in the field. From this comparison, we draw out and discuss a number of key themes. Results Eighteen methods and approaches used for the research project are reviewed and compared. From this, we distil and further discuss the following five overarching themes: reflections on specific data collection methods (free listing, semi-structured interviews with interpreters, voucher specimen collection); assumptions around involving local people; power dynamics; gender relations; and researcher well-being. Conclusion By juxtaposing the theory and practical reality of the methods used, we highlight many potential fieldwork challenges and, within this context, offer general pointers, especially for novice female researchers doing fieldwork in foreign countries. A critical review of this type, where the experience and use of various methods, techniques, and approaches are openly shared and evaluated, is a contribution to selecting, adapting, and fine-tuning the methods best suited to a particular research context.Barbara C. SeeleLéanne DreyerKaren J. EslerAnthony B. CunninghamBMCarticleEthnobotanical methodsPastoralistsFieldworkEthnobiologyResearcher well-beingTraditional ecological knowledge (TEK)Other systems of medicineRZ201-999BotanyQK1-989ENJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Vol 17, Iss 1, Pp 1-18 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Ethnobotanical methods Pastoralists Fieldwork Ethnobiology Researcher well-being Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) Other systems of medicine RZ201-999 Botany QK1-989
spellingShingle	Ethnobotanical methods Pastoralists Fieldwork Ethnobiology Researcher well-being Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) Other systems of medicine RZ201-999 Botany QK1-989 Barbara C. Seele Léanne Dreyer Karen J. Esler Anthony B. Cunningham The loneliness of the long-distance ethnobotanist: a constructive critique of methods used in an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia
description	Abstract Background Fieldwork plays an important role in research projects across a variety of fields, especially in the multidisciplinary setting of natural and social science research. As is the nature of fieldwork, things do not always work out as planned, and yet this is not often written about. In response to the need for honest and transparent accounts of fieldwork, the purpose of this article is to review the methods used during fieldwork for the first author’s dissertation research on ethnoveterinary knowledge. Methods To critically review and reflect on the fieldwork methods used for an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia, we compare the theory underpinning each method with the practical reality of implementing the method in the field. From this comparison, we draw out and discuss a number of key themes. Results Eighteen methods and approaches used for the research project are reviewed and compared. From this, we distil and further discuss the following five overarching themes: reflections on specific data collection methods (free listing, semi-structured interviews with interpreters, voucher specimen collection); assumptions around involving local people; power dynamics; gender relations; and researcher well-being. Conclusion By juxtaposing the theory and practical reality of the methods used, we highlight many potential fieldwork challenges and, within this context, offer general pointers, especially for novice female researchers doing fieldwork in foreign countries. A critical review of this type, where the experience and use of various methods, techniques, and approaches are openly shared and evaluated, is a contribution to selecting, adapting, and fine-tuning the methods best suited to a particular research context.
format	article
author	Barbara C. Seele Léanne Dreyer Karen J. Esler Anthony B. Cunningham
author_facet	Barbara C. Seele Léanne Dreyer Karen J. Esler Anthony B. Cunningham
author_sort	Barbara C. Seele
title	The loneliness of the long-distance ethnobotanist: a constructive critique of methods used in an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia
title_short	The loneliness of the long-distance ethnobotanist: a constructive critique of methods used in an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia
title_full	The loneliness of the long-distance ethnobotanist: a constructive critique of methods used in an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia
title_fullStr	The loneliness of the long-distance ethnobotanist: a constructive critique of methods used in an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia
title_full_unstemmed	The loneliness of the long-distance ethnobotanist: a constructive critique of methods used in an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia
title_sort	loneliness of the long-distance ethnobotanist: a constructive critique of methods used in an ethnoveterinary study in mongolia
publisher	BMC
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/fef2b4908477452bbcad501506cf4db5
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The loneliness of the long-distance ethnobotanist: a constructive critique of methods used in an ethnoveterinary study in Mongolia

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