Real-Life Decision Making
Most anthropologists write articles about their research for anthropology
journals. "It's always a tough decision when you are deciding what to publish,"
says anthropologist Bruce Miller. "You have to ask yourself this question:
Does writing about a certain subject benefit the public?"
Can you exercise good judgment about what to publish?
Imagine that you're an anthropologist who does a lot of work with lawyers
on native issues by helping native people make land claims. You
research treaties that were written hundreds of years ago between native people
and white settlers. You try to understand what agreements they made. You then
testify in court for the native groups, to give the court evidence that helps
the judge or jury make a decision.
With a lawyer's help, any witness in a court case uses strategies to help
them win that case. For example, the witness is asked to practice their testimony
with a lawyer to prepare them for cross-examination, or questions from the
opposition's lawyer. Cross-examination can be stressful for witnesses because
the lawyer will try to prove them wrong by drilling them with questions.
As an anthropologist, the process of human relations fascinates you. Like
many anthropologists, you apply your knowledge of anthropology to the study
of your own society. Specifically, you spend many months researching and writing
an article on the process that anthropologists and lawyers go through to prepare
their testimony for the court. You've done detailed research into this area
and you plan to publish your conclusions.
Before you send off your article for publication, a thought troubles you.
If the public knew that there were preparations involved in an anthropologist's
testimony, that might damage their reputation and make anthropologists less
believable when they appear in court. After reading the article, many people
might think of anthropologists as actors, not experts!
At the same time, you have put many months of effort into preparing this
article. If you don't publish your work, months of time and effort will go
to waste.
What would you do?