Fieldwork and Ethnography of an Amish Community

After reading Chapter Seven which focused on Fieldwork and Ethnography we were presented with several hypothetical questions. They are as follows: If you had the time and resources necessary to travel anywhere in the world where would you go? What would you study? How would you try to accomplish the work? And why would this be worth doing? After much thought, I know that I could have chosen anything, anywhere in the world however, I choose something closer to home that I would want to do as my first ethnographic research project. I find the daily lives of the Amish community in Lawrence County, Indiana most interesting and fascinating and would like to understand more completely as an ethnographic research project. For two years, while commuting to work in Lawrence County Indiana, I would see the Amish traveling in horse and buggy along the side of the highway. I would wonder to myself, “What would it be like to live that lifestyle”?

My first task before beginning my ethnographic research would be to contact the Amish community that I would want to research and then do some preliminary background research that includes accessing a library, internet, folklore journals and databases. (Sims 205) From this preliminary research I can accomplish two things, one is to use this information to gain access to the group and create a good rapport and the other is I would be able to develop good open ended question to ask my consultants for my fieldwork research. (Sims 221, 209) In addition, from my research I would learn to pay close attention to social faux pas, making culturally insensitive comments, or acting inappropriately. (Sims 221) I am also considered and outsider and that can affect my position with the Amish people. (Sims 219) Basically, we play by their rules not ours. (Sims 224) Once a good rapport has been achieved, it is important to prepare a written release form that is a record of the consultants’ permission and any special conditions. Both observer and consultant must sign the release form. (Sims 207) Using my five senses, memory, tape recorder, video recorder, pens, paper and pencil these are some of the most important research tools that I can have with me when doing my fieldwork research. (Sims 206) I would choose the participant-observer approach to research the daily lives of the Amish community. I would really want to experience what it would be like to be a member of the Amish community as opposed to just using an observation method. I would interact with members and spend time with and in the community. (Sims 220) By doing “in the moment” fieldwork and recording what happened via video, photograph or precise notes. I would write down observations, thoughts and ideas, and explain what is going on and do follow up interviews. (Sims 211) When all fieldwork is completed, transcribing and transcripts of taped material is a necessary part of the fieldwork research. (Sims 216) The transcripts serve as a written record that includes the informal, friendly tone of the interview conversation. (Sims 217) When all the transcribing is complete further interviews will be conducted, and notes will be organized, and I will use other researchers’ fieldwork research to compare and contrast observations. (Sims 218)

I know that there are thousands upon thousands of types of folklore culture that I could have observed and researched. However, the text states “folklorists don’t necessarily have to go far away to gather information”. For two years I commuted to work in Mitchell, Indiana in Lawrence County. I would always see the Amish traveling in their horse and buggy along the side of the highway. I would wonder to myself “what would it be like to live that life style”. As a folklorist, being able to document the daily lifestyle of an Amish community; would be worth doing because it would help me and the world better understand the daily lifestyles of the Amish community and create a better understanding of their values and beliefs in comparison to the rest of the world.


This Post is in response to Chapter 7 Reflection Question.



Works Cited


Sims, Martha and Martine Stephens. Living Folklore an Introduction to the Study of People and Their Traditions. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 2005.