Folklore collection and social investigation in late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century England

Freeman, M. (2005) Folklore collection and social investigation in late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century England. Folklore, 116(1), pp. 51-65. (doi: 10.1080/0015587052000337716)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0015587052000337716

Abstract

This article compares the different, but related, activities of folklore collection and social investigation in an important period of English rural history. It is argued that the outputs of both activities reflected a complex series of social and cultural interactions in rural theatres of inquiry, and as such that the methods and concepts underpinning them can themselves illustrate important facets of the social history of the period. The article draws on the model of transition from an "informant" method of data collection--characterised by the consultation of elites rather than the investigated population itself--to a "respondent" method, which relied on first-hand contact with the subjects of inquiry. It is suggested that this model, devised to explain the history of social research, is also relevant to the history of folklore collection. The transition was not smooth, however: rather, it initiated intense methodological conflict between different investigators; and even where the "respondent" method was enthusiastically advocated, there were limits to the extent of empathy that was achieved by collectors and investigators with the population in which they were interested. The article draws on a variety of published sources from the period, including the 1890 and 1914 editions of The Handbook of Folklore.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Freeman, Dr Mark
Authors: Freeman, M.
Subjects:H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General)
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Economic and Social History
Journal Name:Folklore
Publisher:Taylor and Francis
ISSN:0015-587X
ISSN (Online):1469-8315
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2005 Taylor and Francis
First Published:First published in Folklore 116(1):51-65
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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