Ethical Issues

Question 1

Name rules that all anthropologists should follow when studying a Cultural group

Answer 1

• your studies should be as unbiased as possible
• Understand that you should give them their personal space, and know their boundaries
• Don’t release information that does not have their consent.
• Don’t bring in objects that they are not familiar with, because it can change their way of living
• Be humble, because you are the student, the informant is the teacher
• Researchers must tell their subjects that they are doing research
• Assure that your subjects are comfortable around you so you can gain accurate results.
• Subjects must be given the opportunity to provide feedback on the anthropologist’s notes

Question 2

Is the informant, or anthropologist the teacher?

Answer 2

The anthropologists should be humble because they are the learners and the informant is there to help them gain a solid understanding.

Question 3

When interviewing an informant, how prepared and structured should your questions be?

Answer 3

You shouldn’t always rely on your notes because it is a trial and error process, you are meant to go with the flow

Question 4

Explicit cultural knowledge

Answer 4

information about a culture that is easily understood – e.g., kinship,

Question 5

Tactic cultural knowledge

Answer 5

information that we are unaware of is cultural and we assume everyone else shares, e.g., yelling out food order at a restaurant
(When we don’t know this information, an informant is very beneficial)

Question 6

Collecting cultural artifacts?

Answer 6

A piece of art that is made and people can gain insight into the culture

Question 7

Personal Belief Dilemmas?

Answer 7

Your own personal beliefs, you can have your own opinions.

Question 8

Moral dilemmas

Answer 8

When you go against or with your morals in a study