Selecting Ethnographic Informants

by Jeffrey C. Johnson (editor)

In this concise book, Johnson demonstrates that ethnographic informants can be selected in a systematic fashion, maximizing the amount of accurate information given to the ethnographer and the variety of viewpoints the researcher has access to. Using recent work on cultural consensus and network analysis, Johnson offers simple techniques for determining the number and categories of informants needed in a given setting and how to pinpoint key people to approach for information. Replete with examples from a variety of settings, this volume is a valuable methodological aid to all engaged in fieldwork.

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1990