Final answer:
Dr. Macfarlan used long-term fieldwork and ethnography to study labor exchange networks in Dominica, a method that provides a nuanced and holistic understanding of a culture by immersing the researcher in the daily lives and practices of the society being studied.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dr. Macfarlan, while studying labor exchange networks in Dominica, utilized an anthropological method that Lee Cronk did not use while studying the Mukogodo. That method includes long-term fieldwork and the production of an ethnography. An ethnography is an in-depth, qualitative study of a culture, which includes detailed descriptions of a society's customs, behaviors, and ways of life. Malinowski, a pioneer of the long-term fieldwork method, showcased its benefits during his nearly two years of study among the Trobriand peoples. Through this method, he was able to provide rich details about the Trobriand society in his work, Argonauts of the Western Pacific.
The benefits of the long-term fieldwork and ethnographic method are numerous. It allows researchers to immerse themselves in the culture they are studying, which leads to a more nuanced understanding of that culture. By living within the society and adopting local customs, the anthropologist can observe and experience the full array of human needs and the complex cultural systems that address these needs. This holistic approach provides insight into the inner workings of a culture that is difficult to obtain through short-term visits or second-hand accounts.