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Methods and Techniques in Ethnobiology and Ethnoecology pp 15–37Cite as

Methods and Techniques Used to Collect Ethnobiological Data

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Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to discuss the methods and techniques most widely used to elicit information from informants or interviewees, many of which are derived from anthropology. We will thoroughly describe such methods and critically appraise their advantages and limitations based on our personal experience and the published literature. Interviews are the main tool that researchers have to elicit information from study populations. Many techniques are available to conduct interviews, ranging from individual approaches to research conducted with groups of people.

Key words

  • Ethnobiology
  • Traditional knowledge
  • Local knowledge
  • Methods in Ethnobiology

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  • DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-8636-7_2
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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied and Theoretical Ethnobiology, Department of Biology, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

    Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque

  2. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Pernambuco, Nazaré da Mata, Pernambuco, Brazil

    Marcelo Alves Ramos

  3. Departamento de Fitotecnia e Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Areia, Paraíba, Brazil

    Reinaldo Farias Paiva de Lucena

  4. Universidade Federal do Piauí, Floriano, Piauí, Brazil

    Nélson Leal Alencar

Authors
  1. Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque
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  2. Marcelo Alves Ramos
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  3. Reinaldo Farias Paiva de Lucena
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  4. Nélson Leal Alencar
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

    Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque

  2. Departmento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

    Luiz Vital Fernandes Cruz da Cunha

  3. Departamento de Fitotecnia e Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia, Paraíba, Brazil

    Reinaldo Farias Paiva de Lucena

  4. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil

    Rômulo Romeu Nobrega Alves

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Albuquerque, U.P., Ramos, M.A., de Lucena, R.F.P., Alencar, N.L. (2014). Methods and Techniques Used to Collect Ethnobiological Data. In: Albuquerque, U., Cruz da Cunha, L., de Lucena, R., Alves, R. (eds) Methods and Techniques in Ethnobiology and Ethnoecology. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8636-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8636-7_2

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-8636-7

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