Final answer:
Anthropologists build networks of informants to gain deep cultural insights, maintain ethical research practices, and ensure community engagement in the research process. Informants' rights and ownership of information are respected, and findings are shared with the public through accessible platforms.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is crucial for anthropologists to develop a network of informants during their fieldwork to ensure that they have a comprehensive understanding of the culture they are studying. Informants such as respondents, consultants, and friends contribute insider information which is vital for an accurate and nuanced anthropological research project. Conducting interviews in comfortable and familiar settings, ensuring ethical considerations like informed consent, and engaging with local communities are all fundamental to gathering rich data. The importance of such networks is further underscored by the ability to address issues identified by the culture being studied and the ethics of research, where informants retain control over the use of their information, acknowledging their ownership and the protection of their rights.
Technological advances and global interconnectivity have made fieldwork more complex, as researchers must now consider the global flows of information and how they impact local cultures. With the advent of social media, the methods by which anthropologists conduct fieldwork and share their results have transformed, pushing towards more collaboration and public engagement with a wider audience through accessible platforms, ensuring the community's voice is not just included but highlighted in the research.