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
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Publicado: BMC 2021
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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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