Reciprocity Rules: Friendship and Compensation in Fieldwork Encounters

Reciprocity Rules explores the complex relationships between anthropologists and research participants, focusing on compensation, friendship, and "family" relationships. Contributors reflect on how they have compensated participants and given back to host communities, addressing power dynamics, cultural misunderstandings, and the challenges of maintaining good relations. They argue that learning, following, and discussing local rules of reciprocity are essential for responsible research practice and decolonization.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2022
Publisher: Lexington Books

Reciprocity Rules delves into the intricate and multifaceted connections that evolve between anthropologists and research participants throughout the course of their engagement. With a particular emphasis on compensation and the establishment of friendship and "family" relationships, contributors explore the various ways in which researchers and the individuals with whom they collaborate exchange gifts and benefits both during and beyond fieldwork. Through a combination of reflexivity and narrative, the contributors to this edited collection, who represent diverse stages in their professional careers and have conducted research across three continents and eight countries, reflect on their approaches to compensating research participants and contributing back to host communities. They consider both tangible and intangible forms of reciprocity, share stories of both successes and challenges, and examine the prevailing notions of compensation, friendship, and "helping." By undertaking this analysis, the contributors aim to shed light on the interpersonal dynamics of power and agency within the field, examine cultural misunderstandings, and highlight the complexities anthropologists encounter when maintaining positive relationships with their hosts, even when separated by time and distance.

The contributors argue that while learning, following, openly discussing, and writing about the local rules of reciprocity can be challenging, they are essential to responsible research practice and ongoing efforts to decolonize anthropology. Through their insights and experiences, Reciprocity Rules provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of human relationships and the ethical considerations involved in conducting research in diverse contexts.

Weight: 308g
Dimension: 230 x 154 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781498592963