The authors discuss the difficulties in adapting American methods of field work to the cultural conditions in pre-industrial societies, in this case a pilot study on family planning in a Middle Eastern Moslem country. It is demonstrated that if the researcher is native and has kinship ties in a traditional community, he can use these assets: (1) to expedite the hiring of relatively qualified field workers, (2) to bypass intervention from local officials and gain their support, and (3) to bridge gaps between the project director and field workers by making the research a clan project. Certain drawbacks are discussed. Acknowledging the increasing number of social scientists from underdeveloped areas who are being trained in empirical research methodology, the authors feel their work might contribute to an understanding of problems associated with doing research in underdeveloped areas and their possible solutions. (TL)