Abstract
In this chapter I detail the circuitous path that led to my development of a cross-national study of postwar adaptation and behavior among Bosnian refugees and nationals. By sharing both the motivation and inspiration behind this study, as well as the series of steps (and missteps) along the way, I hope to offer students a “behind-the-scenes” look at the messy, at times risky, but ultimately rewarding ethnographic journey, as well as the unique insights one can gain from such an undertaking.
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Notes
- 1.
All names are pseudonyms.
- 2.
I use the term “informant” here to refer to study participants, as well as individuals who helped make introductions and bridge relational distance between myself and potential study participants (see, e.g., Jacques & Wright, 2008).
- 3.
The age range was selected to include only people who were between infancy and adolescence during the war.
- 4.
Baščaršija is Sarajevo’s old bazaar and considered the historical and cultural center of Sarajevo.
- 5.
- 6.
I am indebted to my former UMSL colleague Richard Wright who was a strong advocate of this project and encouraged me to take the plunge into qualitative research. Without his encouragement, mentoring, and advice, I would not be writing about this journey.
- 7.
- 8.
See Presser (2004) for an excellent paper on the construction of identity in the context of qualitative interviews.
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DiPietro, S.M. (2018). To the Bridge and Back: Risks, Rewards, and Rookie Mistakes in a Study of Postwar Bosnia. In: Rice, S., Maltz, M. (eds) Doing Ethnography in Criminology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96316-7_10
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