Planning vs. Openness

Ideally, a Data Management Plan (DMP) should be created before or at the beginning of a project and document and define as precisely as possible how research data will be handled within the project. However, the well-intended rule of thumb, „always remember to plan ahead,“ is difficult to implement in the context of ethnographic researchEthnographic field research refers to the collection of empirical data on-site, meaning within concrete social settings, as opposed to laboratory research, archival research or standardized survey studies. The typically long-term participation of ethnographers in the daily life of the group under study allows for direct observation of social practices and processes, allowing for insights into actual behavior. It is important to note that researchers are always part of the situations in the field, and their assigned and assumed social positions significantly influence their data – that is, what they are able to observe and understand. Read More. The inherently exploratory nature of ethnographic research – at least in its initial field phase – requires a fundamental openness to unforeseen developments and topics that were not anticipated during the research planning stage. Frequently, original research questions prove irrelevant in the field, or planned methods turn out to be unfeasible. Ethnographers are therefore constantly required to adapt their approaches and research topics to the social realities encountered in the field. Thus, the characteristic openness and flexibility of the ethnographic research processAn attitude of methodological openness is essential in ethnographic research to adapt to the dynamics of social processes and respond to unforeseen events in the field. A fixed, unchangeable set of research methods does not meet these requirements. Furthermore, ethnographic research is also characterized by openness toward research materials after data collection; this approach encourages the continuous establishment of new theoretical perspectives on the material in order to allow for constructive and multi-layered interpretations. Read More, which is desirable from a methodological standpoint, stands in contrast to the scientific policy demand for forward planning in research data management and the systematic application of data management plans as a guiding framework throughout the research process.

Moreover, at the beginning of an ethnographic project, it is often difficult to determine what specific types of dataThe terms 'file type' and 'file format' are often used interchangeably. A distinction is made between proprietary and open file formats. Proprietary formats usually require fee-based software to access, as they may not be compatible with other programs (e.g., PowerPoint for .ppt files or Photoshop for .psd files). In contrast, open formats such as .rtf or .png are based on standards and can be opened by many programs. Read More will be generated, what potential reuse scenarios might emerge, and what specific data protectionData protection includes measures against the unlawful collection, storage, sharing, and reuse of personal data. It is based on the right of individuals to self-determination regarding the handling of their data and is anchored in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz), and the corresponding laws of the federal states. A violation of data protection regulations can lead to criminal consequences. Read More and ethical researchResearch ethics addresses the relationship between researchers, the research field, and the subjects/participants of the research. This relationship is critically examined against the backdrop of vulnerabilities and power asymmetries created by the research process (Unger, Narimani & M’Bayo, 2014, p.1-2). Due to the processual and open-ended nature of ethnographic research, ethical questions arise throughout the research process in various ways, depending on the research context and methods. However, research ethics does not end with leaving the field; it also encompasses issues related to data archiving, data protection, and sharing research data with participants (see, for example, ethics guidelines by the DGSKA or the position paper on archiving, provision, and reuse of research data by the dgv). Read More challenges will arise (Demmer et al., 2020, pp. 43).

Consequently, a DMP in the context of ethnographic research cannot be treated as a fixed form that is simply completed at the beginning of a project and then „filed away.“ For social and cultural anthropology, only broadly structured data management plans are practical – ones that function as „living documents“ and can be adapted to changing methodologies and workflows within the project. A sufficiently flexible DMP facilitates research data management, encourages reflection on the processes of data collection, documentation, and curation, and can thus positively impact scientific practice.