交汇、挑战与应对:大数据技术对人类学民族志的影响

Convergence,Challenges,and Responses:The Impact of Big Data Technology on Anthropological Ethnography

大数据技术的快速发展为研究者提供了更广泛、更丰富的数据资源,其规模性、实时性、多样性和高度可追溯性也为人类学研究带来了全新的视角和方法。本文探讨了大数据对人类学民族志方法的影响,即大数据技术与民族志在本体论、认识论和方法论上均有交汇,使民族志兼具定性与定量的双重特质,大数据技术促进了增强型民族志、网络民族志和线下民族志的发展与创新,拓宽了人类学民族志方法运用的空间。大数据也给传统民族志方法带来挑战,使传统民族志面临技术依赖和数据过载的困扰,过度依赖大数据容易导致对数据背后的人文因素的忽视,大数据“关键问题”策略挑战民族志的客观性与准确性,且大数据难以将人类经验与主观感受完全转换成数据。此外,民族志对大数据技术的运用还面临伦理和隐私保护的问题,如何避免被研究者信息泄露并保护其知情权也是民族志方法中的重点问题。针对这些问题,笔者认为在民族志中需要关注“厚数据”和“小数据”,注重对数据背后的社会和象征意义的深度解释,并严肃对待伦理问题。

Anthropologists hold diverse and ambivalent attitudes towards big data.Some of them believe that traditional ethnographic fieldwork still should dominate anthropological methods,therefore viewing large-scale data collection and analysis as merely complementary to qualitative research.This paper holds that clarifying the relationship between big data and anthropological ethnography can be of great significance for advancing anthropological methods.Therefore,this study tries to explore the convergence of big data technology and anthropological ethnography across three key dimensions:Ontology,epistemology,and methodology.In ontology,big data scientists and ethnographers jointly focus on reframing new“realities”as represented by big data.In epistemology,attention is paid to how knowledge definitions are evolving,driving the personalization and diversification of knowledge.In methodology,the fusion of big data with traditional ethnographic methods has led to the development of enhanced ethnography,online ethnography,and offline ethnography,promoting innovation and expansion in ethnographic research methods and scope,and introducing new perspectives and approaches for understanding social and cultural phenomena.However,big data also presents challenges to anthropological ethnography,particularly concerning technological dependence,data saturation,and ethical privacy concerns.Researchers may excessively rely on technology,neglecting the humanistic aspects inherent in data,potentially rendering research impersonal and mechanistic.Additionally,researchers face data overload and the selection difficulties of relevant information.Furthermore,key problem-solving strategies in big data analysis may affect the objectivity and accuracy of research,overlooking contextual influences on data interpretation.Ethical and privacy issues also seem to be looming large,with such issues as individual privacy rights as well as a growing prominence of controversies surrounding data ownership and misuse.Moreover,big data may introduce biases,underrepresenting the voices of marginalized and minority groups,exacerbating the digital divide issue.In response to these challenges,this study believes that anthropological ethnography needs adopt a cautious approach to integrating big data technology.Anthropologists could address these challenges by focusing on“thick data”and simultaneously valuing“small data.”Firstly,adopting the principles of“thick description”and“thick data,”emphasizing in-depth,qualitative data to uncover the motives and cultural backgrounds underlying human behavior from diverse perspectives.Simultaneously,valuing“small data,”namely micro-level data generated by individuals or groups,could help identify patterns and phenomena from an intensive and comprehensive perspective,ensuring research depth and accuracy.Regarding ethical issues and privacy security,researchers should ensure informed consent and privacy protection,prioritize ethics education and training,establish independent ethics review processes,promptly respond to participants'feedback and concerns,and safeguard participants'rights and research legitimacy.In conclusion,the above confirms the prevailing notion that the advent of big data expands the scope and tools of ethnographic research,promoting the integration of digital ethnography with big data.This development trend requires ethnographers to be more flexible,pay attention to interaction with technology and interdisciplinary cooperation to adapt to and leverage emerging digital research tools innovatively.Currently,anthropological research in our country also needs to integrate qualitative and quantitative methods,learn to use digital tools,while at the same time exercise caution regarding technological dependence and data overload Overall,anthropological ethnography methods in the era of big data demands a balanced integration of traditional methods and modern technology to more comprehensively and deeply understand and interpret social and cultural phenomena.