Final answer:
In anthropological research, a special relationship with a group member assisting the researcher is with a person called a key informant. These individuals facilitate understanding of the culture and contribute to collaborative ethnography, which includes long-term and open-ended research focused on mutual benefits. Participant observation is another method used for qualitative data collection.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an anthropologist begins research in a new group, he or she often relies on an existing friendship with a group member. These subjects with a special relationship to the researcher are often called key informants. Key informants are essential as they provide insight and facilitate deeper understanding of the culture being studied. They are often deeply conscious of their culture and can offer insider information that is invaluable to the research.
Long-term research projects involve regular return to the subject culture to follow up on projects and programs. This type of open-ended research is collaborative, with the anthropologist and the subject community working together to determine the research objectives, the administration of projects, and what findings to publish. Collaborative ethnography allows for the representation of multiple perspectives and aims to be more relevant and beneficial to the community being studied.
Another method used in anthropological research is participant observation, where the researcher immerses themselves in the group while maintaining their research perspective. Findings are gathered through qualitative methods and are descriptive or interpretive in nature, presenting the nuanced social patterns observed within the culture.