สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

«“√ “√ √“™∫— ≥±‘ µ¬ ∂“π ªï ∑’Ë Û ©∫— ∫∑’Ë Ù µ.§.-∏.§. ÚıÙ¯ 961 Arika Virapongse, Chayan Picheansoonthon Table 2. Some defining variables of a study site and informants. 22 Study site Informants • Political and geographical location • Age • Flora and fauna • Ethnicity • Seasons and climate • Religion • Ethnicity of communities • Place of birth • Current economic and development status • Gender • Historical data relevant to traditional • Occupation medicine • Migration to other regions • Kinship • Number of children • Number of people in household • Literacy • Education • Language ability Methods used for descriptive studies This section presents some common ethnobotany and anthro- pology methods which are used to research traditional medicine. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are described and case studies are used to illustrate techniques for combining or altering the methods to meet objectives and reduce the negative aspects of the methods. The methods include, participatory observation, unstruc- tured/open-ended, semi-structured, structured and specialized interviews, ethnographic techniques, inventory, patient logs/health calendars, deci- sion tables, and literature survey. 1. Participatory observation This technique requires the researcher to participate in tasks with the community of study and observe the community members’ interac- tions and daily life. Data may be collected by recording observations and asking questions. 23 Participatory observation is considered a highly reliable technique. It reduces the possibility of behavior change among the people of study and offers the researcher an intuitive understan- ding of the culture which improves his/her ability to formulate more sensible questions. 24 However, it often requires a lengthy study period to form rapport with the community, which is necessary to gather valid data. Voeks 25 examined the plant pharmacopoeia used in spiritual healing ceremonies by six traditional specialists in Brazil. This study was especially challenging because the traditional knowledge was highly guarded by healers, and a lengthy correspondence using subtle and unobtrusive methods, such as inter- views and participant observation methods, was necessary to document knowledge. The results included descriptions of traditional mytho- logy, religion, and health principles related to medicinal plant use, a list of plants with accompanying herbarium specimens, documentation of the plants’ ritual use and classi- fication according to mythological characteristics, and theories on changes in traditional medicine and medicinal plants as a result of previous migration. 2. Interviews All descriptive studies of traditional medicine utilize inter- viewing techniques. Interviews can generate both qualitative and quantitative, data depending on the type of interview used. The inter- view techniques described here are unstructured, semi-structured, structured and applied interviews. Unstructured interview This interview has the appea-