Anthropologist, psychologists and sociologists skills and methods

Question 1

Define Reliable

Answer 1

The term describing an experiment or observation that, if repeated will produce exactly the same results

Question 2

Define Informants

Answer 2

members of a group who provide information to social scientists who are studying the group

Question 3

Define Participant Observation

Answer 3

the anthropological method of study where a researcher lives with a cultural group for an extended period to obtain an insider’s understanding of the group

Question 4

Define Vague Notes

Answer 4

notes that, because they provide only a sketchy description of an incident, are unstable at a later date for drawing conclusions

Question 5

Define Concrete Notes

Answer 5

detailed notes that provide a full description of an incident, including its participants, location, tone, and conclusion

Question 6

Define Reflexivity

Answer 6

The practice by anthropologists of analyzing their own thought processes and belief structures to understand how these affect how they interpret observations

Question 7

Define Polygyny

Answer 7

a form of marriage in which a man has more than one wife at a time

Question 8

Define Informed Consent

Answer 8

the requirement that subjects must understand and agree to their participation in an experiment or observation before the results can be used.

Question 9

Define Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

Answer 9

a measurement of a person’s general intelligence, obtained through written tests and comparisons of the results of the test with data on average intelligence

Question 10

Define Regression to the Mean

Answer 10

the idea maintained by psychologists that intelligence, while not inherited, is distributed consistently throughout a population from generation to generation

Question 11

Define Double-Blind Principle

Answer 11

an experimental practice in which neither the experimenter nor the subject knows to which group (the control or experimental group) the subject belongs

Question 12

Define Heritable

Answer 12

a characteristic that is acquired through the genes

Question 13

Define Dependent Variable

Answer 13

a factor that is caused or influenced by another factor

Question 14

Define Independent Variable

Answer 14

a factor that has an effect on a second factor

Question 15

Define Intervening Variable

Answer 15

when making comparisons a sociologist must be sensitive to intervening variables. There are variables/factors which make it difficult to make a complete/accurate link between independent and dependent variables

Question 16

Define Casual Theories

Answer 16

try to compare two variables to determine whether one variable causes the other

Question 17

Define Consequential Theories

Answer 17

try to predict what will happen to society if a particular variable is changed

Question 18

Define Hypothesis

Answer 18

a proposition or question that someone tries to prove or answer

Question 19

What are some of the challenges that Anthropologists have to endure during fieldwork?

Answer 19

Challenges:Participant observers must not only observe carefully and in detail, but they must also try to understand the worlds as their informants see it. It is very important for the research that they do not judge what they see based on their standards/beliefs.

Question 20

What are some of the ethical issues that Anthropologists have to endure during fieldwork?

Answer 20

Ethical Considerations: trying to understand a culture may be difficult because it may sometimes conflict with our own values and beliefs. Researchers might be faced with the temptation to intervene in situations that may cause harm or stress to the subject. Participant observations may come in conflict with personal beliefs and values. Sometimes researchers may have to compromise their beliefs for the good of their research.

Question 21

Identify and explain the three areas of study that Psychologists focus on?

Answer 21

Psychologists focus on Human Intelligence, personality, and privacy and intimacy.

Question 22

Identify and explain some ethical issues that Psychologists focus on?

Answer 22

Psychologists conducing experiments must consider whether they are legitimately observing human behaviour or simply spying on others. It is important to review and abide by proper ethical guidelines when conducting experimentation

Question 23

What is Human Intelligence?

Answer 23

Human Intelligence: IQ: it was introduced in 1916 by Alfred Binet and consists of a number of questions that do not rely on previously acquired knowledge. An average IQ score in about 100. The higher a person scores above 100 the more intelligent a person is assumed to be. The further below 100 the less intelligent a person is assumed to be. IQ testing is a crude measure and several issues have arisen with respect to measuring intelligence. Several questions have been raised and addressed over the concept of intelligence.

Question 24

What are the conclusions regarding intelligence?

Answer 24

1. No group of people (ethnic, gender, race, etc.) is inherently more intelligent than other groups.
2. There is no direct evidence that intelligence is inherited
3. There is no evidence that intelligence is related to physiology(body structure)
4. There does appear to be a link between reaction time to a particular task and intelligence.

Question 25

What is Personality?

Answer 25

Social scientists researching personality consider personality as a powerful determinant of behavioiur. The main means of obtaining research results on a personality is through experiments.

Question 26

What is Privacy and Intimacy?

Answer 26

Psychologists are interested in researching how and why we encourage or avoid closeness with others. To a large extent our cultures may determine our tendencies towards privacy or intimacy. In our culture we may have a different standard to regulate intimacy such as distance between people, eye contact, body language, touching etc.

Question 27

Identify some of the methods used by sociologists?

Answer 27

One method used by sociologists are questionnaires and surveys. There are two kind of questionnaires : administered questionnaire and self-administered questionnaire.
Administered questionnaire: the researcher asks the subject questions and fills in the responses
Self-Administered Questionnaire: the subjects themselves answer the questions and return the questionnaire to the researcher.
The second method is Case Studies: sociologists and psychologists would interview subjects and compare their particular case with that of others in a similar circumstances to identify any coincidences.

Question 28

Identify some of the ethical considerations that sociologists must be aware of during research?

Answer 28

~when asking questions it is important to respect anonymity
~questions should be confined to those topics that are necessary and relevant to the topic
~The research must maintain an emotional distance from the respondent
~the researcher must avoid trying to change the respondent’s behaviour
~When working with statistics the researcher must refrain from manipulating data

Question 29

Why are self-administered questionnaires usually more effective?

Answer 29

this is because people may be reluctant to answer questions about private aspects of their behaviour, but may be more willing to provide data under anonymous settings.

There are some concerns about questionnaires as to the honesty of the responses.