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242 CHAPTER 9 Ethnography

with that knowledge. You should also respect the needs and goals of the individuals
you are speaking with: your need for research data should not trump their need for
privacy, job security, or other things (Angrosino, 2007). Making people feel threat-
ened is probably not the right way to get good research data.
It is important to try to understand the conventions and norms that are shared by
members of the groups that you study (Agar, 1980). Even if you're working with
groups of people who are culturally and socio-economically similar to you, they
may have very different habits, expectations, values, or jargon. Understanding these
cultural factors may not be easy to do, but it's worth the effort. You don't want to
say something that offends someone in the group and you don't want to be misinter-
preted. Slang and jargon are particularly challenging in this regard. You may think
that you know the meaning of a slang term in your particular context, but you'd be
well advised to make sure that your understanding is correct (Agar, 1980).

9.4.4 MAKING CONTACT

Many ethnographic efforts start with discussions with a small number of individuals.
Even if you are introduced to all members of the group from the outset, you can't
start talking to them all at once—it's simply not possible. In some cases, particularly
if the group of interest is not completely defined, your initial contacts may help you
meet others.
Your initial contacts play a very important role. Well-chosen contacts can help
you orient yourself to the ways and workings of the environment that you will be
studying. Particularly if they are well respected, they can help smooth the way, con-
vincing others who trust them that you are “OK.”
Because your first contacts will influence your perceptions of and interactions
with other group members, you should carefully consider who you choose to work
closely with at first. Experienced researchers have noted that the first people to talk
to ethnographers often fall into one of two categories: stranger-handlers and deviants
(Agar, 1980).
Stranger-handlers are people who make it their business to work with people who
are new to the group. They introduce you to others, show you around, and appear to
be very helpful. They might also show you a particularly slanted view, emphasizing
details that they want you to know about while omitting others that they want to leave
hidden. If there are factions within the group, a stranger-handler might encourage
you to associate with his faction, possibly alienating members of other subgroups. As
outcasts who may not be well respected, a deviant might try to use you to gain atten-
tion, to validate their otherwise under-appreciated role in the group, or to denigrate
their enemies. As your goal is to gain a broad understanding of the group, you should
beware of such people.
Unfortunately, you may not know that you're dealing with a deviant or a
stranger-handler until it is too late. You may want to rely upon your initial feel
for each individual—do they seem trustworthy? Do you “click” with them? If so,
they may be good bets. If, however, they seem to be providing you with selective