In his new book published by Princeton University Press, Michel Anteby opens the debate: how would you react to a researcher who asked you uncomfortable questions? One option is often to find ways to resist them, using every possible nuance, from categorically refusing to answer to feigning sudden memory lapses. Such behavior can ultimately delay or prevent research from being conducted in close proximity to the respondents. For Michel Anteby, however, it would be a shame to see this as nothing more than a constraint to be forgotten once access to the field is finally granted. On the contrary, the sociologist argues that it is important to take the resistance shown by respondents seriously, as it often provides valuable insights into the social worlds around us. With more than 20 years of experience in ethnography, the author helps us to reflect on this issue through a variety of research fields, from the issue of strikes at Disney to that of security at international airports, and the question of morality at a business school such as Harvard University.
The meeting will take place on Thursday, January 9, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in room B 004 (Belgrand wing) of the Ecole nationale des ponts et chaussées, 6-8 avenue Blaise-Pascal, Cité Descartes in Champs-sur-Marne (RER A Noisy-Champs). It will be introduced by Stève Bernardin.