Facebook w badaniach etnograficznych – przyczynek do dyskusji o dylematach etycznych antropologa

Abstract

The article analyses the role of netnographic research as a part of the classical ethnographic research concerning linguistic, cultural and identity practices of young people belonging to European linguistic minorities. Based on personal experience from field research, two main attitudes of the Facebook researcher are presented: the participant–observer and the observer not participating. The first is engaged in Facebook community life and actively reacts against informants listings, poses questions and stimulates conversations. The observer not participating is mute and does not react in any way to the contents placed on Facebook. Both attitudes are loaded with ethical problems: from breaking the anonymity and consciousness of being observed rule to the possibility of manipulation of observed people. This article concentrates on the advantages of using the Internet and particularly Facebook as a supplement to classical ethnographic fieldwork while it gives the observer access to all spheres of young people’s lives which are not accessible when researching only in the off-line reality.