Article in Press
This article is currently in the Just Accepted phase. The final published version may have formatting changes or additional corrections.
Abstract
This study presents the effective use of fiction in an anthropological research. It investigates a fictional composite identity, referred to as The Question Person, during data collection to protect theidentities of research participants. This method enables a comprehensive examination of State- Sponsored Overseas Chinese Academics (OCAs) engaged in China’s cultural globalisation initiatives.
In addition, a contextual framework based on an ethnographic fiction titled The Islanders is introduced, advocating for the literary genre as a crucial tool for anthropological research. This paper
argues that incorporating fiction into anthropological inquiry not only enhances participant confidentiality but also allows researchers to portray individuals as holistic entities with complex
backgrounds and life trajectories. This methodology prevents the identification of participants within the narrative and provides a novel approach to theoretical exploration while facilitating
communication with a wider audience.
