The Method of Expert Interview As an Effective Research Procedure of Studying the Indigenous Peoples of the North
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Siberian Federal University Digital Repository Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences 1 (2015 8) 114-129 ~ ~ ~ УДК 304.444, 314.1 (571.511) + 314.1 (571.512) The Method of Expert Interview as an Effective Research Procedure of Studying the Indigenous Peoples of the North Natalia M. Libakova and Ekaterina A. Sertakova* Siberian Federal University 79 Svobodny, Krasnoyarsk, 660041, Russia Received 13.04.2014, received in revised form 21.05.2014, accepted 30.06.2014 This article analyzes the concept of “indigenous peoples”, as well as the concept of indigeneity that was formed in cultural studies and that implies a specific approach to the study of ethnic cultures in their self-sufficiency. One effective way of meeting the requirements of this approach is the expert interview. This article discusses the possibility of applying this method in studies of indigenous peoples of the North to the material collected by scholars, masters and students of Siberian Federal University during an expedition to the north of the Krasnoyarsk Krai. The work was performed as a part of the research funded by the Krasnoyarsk Regional Fund of Support for Scientific and Technological Activities, as well as within the research plan of SibFU following the instructions of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. Keywords: indigenous peoples, indigenous peoples of the North, ethnic identity, cultural studies, research procedures, method of expert interview. Research area: culture studies. At present the study of indigenous peoples This is an active area of research of the North is one of the central themes for both: domestic and foreign scholars. in various social sciences and humanities. J.W. Fenelon, S.J. Murgua, M.B. Lane, M. Hibbard, This interest in the subject is due to several M.L. Martello, S.E. Mills, A. Feldman, reasons. The first is that in the context of E.A. Korczak, N.A. Khrenov, F.H. Sokolova, global transformations the influence of “big” S.V. Guzenina, N.P. Koptseva, V.I. Kirko, cultures on indigenous peoples is constantly V.P. Krivonogov, N.I. Novikova, etc. made a increasing and there is a need to preserve significant contribution to the study of indigenous these “minor” cultures. (Berry, Dasen, peoples. Today a relevant question remains Purtinga, Sigal 2007). Secondly, the study of concerning the type of methodology to be indigenous peoples` specifics and finding ways applied to this kind of research, because results to preserve their unique cultures is particularly and conclusions obtained through this research relevant in terms of industrial development of to a certain extent determine the future of these the North. peoples: whether they can or cannot maintain © Siberian Federal University. All rights reserved * Corresponding author E-mail address: [email protected] – 114 – Natalia M. Libakova and Ekaterina A. Sertakova. The Method of Expert Interview as an Effective Research Procedure… their own identity and uniqueness of culture in the to as “Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention”. global transformations, otherwise assimilation is This document focuses on giving peoples an going to take place. opportunity to preserve and develop their unique The degree of validity of results is significant cultural characteristics in a different mainstream for any empirical research (Savage, 2013), that is society. Indigenous and tribal peoples in the the correspondence between the results obtained Convention are defined as follows: in the study and reality. The degree of validity is 1) tribal peoples in independent countries initially conditioned by the method or procedure whose social, cultural and economic conditions which it is supposed to be used for research, so distinguish them from other sections of the national in this regard the choice of methods, techniques, community, and whose status is regulated wholly and development of methodological strategy are or partially by their own customs or traditions or of paramount importance. It is fair to note that by special laws or regulations; this choice is due to the specifics of the research 2) peoples in independent countries who object. The expert interview is one of effective are regarded as indigenous on account of their methods of studying indigenous peoples of the descent from the populations which inhabited North. Peculiarities of this method allow to get a the country, or a geographical region to which glimpse at these peoples from the “internal” point the country belongs, at the time of conquest or of view (emic standpoint) (Triandis, Gerardo, colonization or the establishment of present state 1983), this position corresponds to the concept of boundaries and who, irrespective of their legal indigeneity. status, retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions 1. The Concept of Indigeneity (Dallmann, Goldman, 2003). in Cultural Studies W. Dallmann and H. Goldman also The Russian concept “индигенный” comes made analysis of understanding of the term from the English word “indigenous”. However “индигенный” (indigenous) in Russia. The the interpretation of the content of this concept researchers note that understanding of the term remains fuzzy. The problem of translation and by the Russian public largely does not coincide understanding of this term was in the focus of with the West. This is due to the specifics of attention of western scholars W. Dallmann and Russian history, changes in the policy of the H. Goldman (Dallmann, Goldman, 2003). Russian Empire through the Soviet Union to the Scholars point to the fact that only the social Post-Soviet Russia. This in turn causes difficulties and political context makes the fundamental in determining the status of indigenous peoples, choice for the use of the words “native”, and in defining a certain group of peoples as “indigenous” or “aboriginal”. In particular this indigenous. choice becomes of substantial importance when Among Russian researchers the problem of relating to the relationship between those who determining the meaning of indigenous people originally occupied a certain territory and those is developed by M.S. Kuropyatnik, Doctor of who came to this territory as colonists. Social Sciences, Professor of St. Petersburg Nevertheless, there is a legal, international State University. The researcher analyzes standard for the use of the term “indigenous”, the significance and place of the concept of stated in the ILO Convention No.169 (1989) (The “indigenous” in political and scientific academic International Labour Organization), also referred discourse, the transformation of this concept – 115 – Natalia M. Libakova and Ekaterina A. Sertakova. The Method of Expert Interview as an Effective Research Procedure… under the influence of various socio-cultural humanities began to emerge in the last quarter factors (Kuropyatnik, 2002). of the 20th century, but today its necessity In cultural studies, the formation of the is perceived as a well-established fact. A concept of indigeneity has methodological number of modern scholars, among which significance and is associated with the protest are S.J. Thompson, D.M. Davis, R. Merton, of non-Western cultures against the use of M. Fiske, P. Kendall, V.I. Ilyin, V.A. Kurennoy, standardized research procedures in the study M.M. Lukin, M. Ermoshin and many others note of different cultures. The concept of indigeneity many advantages of the interview method. is considered to be a peculiar reaction “to “Interview” is a conversation with a set the lack of theories of individualism, typical purpose and set tasks which are related to for the West” (Markus, Kitayama, 1998), as obtaining information relevant to the ongoing opposition to the positivist approach, which research. Interviews (literally meaning “opinion in is characterized by the use of a standardized between”) during the survey involve an exchange research methodology, despite the fact that it can of opinions between interlocutors (an interviewer lead to erroneous interpretation of the empirical and a respondent), thereby generating another data. The concept of indigeneity has grown on value – the construction of new knowledge, the a foundation of classic works: Philosophy of formation of new content. Culture by O. Spengler, who stipulated the idea As noted by a leading European specialist of existence of a number of local equal cultures, in qualitative research S. Kvale: “the form of the writings of F. Boas, the founder of the school conversation today is a necessary condition to of cultural anthropology. The researchers prove obtain knowledge about the inner world and inadmissibility of the use of general theories social life, including also academic knowledge”. and the standardized methodology in cultural According to him, the research interview is the studies; they highlight the need to study each best way of finding the quality and content of culture in its self-sufficiency. information required to solve research problems of humanities. 2. Possible Applications Interviews can be formalized, un-formalized of Expert Interviews in Cultural Studies and semi-formalized. The expert interview is one of the methods The formalized interview presupposes that conform to the concept of indigeneity. composed questions of a closed type, where In scientific knowledge the interview is the researcher selects some necessary answer traditionally attributed to sociological