Human Subjects Research

[Rudolf Gaudio]

Rachel,

My experience has been that it is best to devote a section of your
proposal to a simple explanation of ethnographic methods in general.
You need to let the reviewers know that your project -- however weird it
may seem to them -- is designed according to the norms of your
discipline.  You also need to explain (respectfully, of course!) how the
biomedical/experimental model does not apply to ethnography.  If you're
working with literate adults who live in the U.S. and/or who have access
to the relevant official agencies (review board, univ. administration,
legal system), you can probably justify giving participants an
information sheet that explains your project, the conditions of their
participation, appropriate contact information, etc., and asking them to
affirm their consent either in writing or orally on audio- or
video-tape.  A bigger challenge is how to obtain legally and
administratively satisfactory consent from would-be participants who,
due to differences and/or inequalities of language, class, education,
geography or technology, do not have access to the U.S. academic and
legal system.  I have some experiences in that regard, as do many others
on this list.

Good luck,

Rudi Gaudio
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