Micro and Macro Data in Village India -A Note

Micro and Macro Data in Village India A Note Allan Hoben Thomas A Timberg Despite the complementarity of in-depth participant-observer studies and research based on census and survey techniques, or perhaps because of it, it has proven difficult to develop a fruitful relationship between them. Until recently, differences in intellectual orientation, methodological dogma and philosophical outlook, as well as of institutional affiliation, has tended to keep their practitioners apart and at odds. Over the past few years, the situation has begun to change due to a convergence in theoretical perspectives between economists and anthropologist interested in empirical studies of decision-making and a convergence of their interests, for example in the rural poor. It appears, however, that successful collar boration depends on researchers sharing an interest in the same empirical problems, and probably some explicit co-ordination.