AnthropologyA holistic study of what it means to be

human

Subfields of Anthropology

• Four basic fields of Anthropology:

• Archaeology

• Linguistics

• Physical

• Cultural

Characteristics of Research

• Holism

• Ground-up research• Descriptive vs.

experimental vs. predictive

• Seeks to be in the field

• âInsiderâs �� ��Perspectiveâ ��• Attention to

contexts

• Comparative

• Ethical representation: of those we study and of the research process, including:• Disclosure of researcherâs ��

position

• Showing research as a process

• Showing complexity of research process

Examples of Stuff and Style:

• Tragedies

• Homeland

• Heritage/âbloodâ�� ��• Phenotype/race

• Language

• Religion

• Clothing

• Food

• Dance

• âPastâ/ Historical �� ��events

Just about anything

Participant Observation

Advantages• Develops familiarity with

everyday life or normative contexts.

• Provides insights into behaviors and practices.

• Helps with understanding what people do versus what they say they do.

Disadvatages• Time Consuming

• Data Heavy

• Requires researcher to be aware of personal bias and previous experiences that might cloud the data.

Types of Interviews

Structured Unstructured

Asked same questions Asked open-ended questions

Same order Respond in own words

Same conditions Can be in different order

Interviewer has more control

Informant has more control