methods in cultural anthropology Flashcards
fieldwork
going to the field where people or cultures are. most commonly used now. challenging, exciting, frustrating, full of surprises. alters anthropologists lives, adds something new
- armchair (sitting and reading) anthropology (1870’s)
early cultural anthropology research, read with no direct experience. reading reports by explorers and untrained observers. did not go out and live with the people
- verandah anthropology (early 1900’s)
travel to colonized country and live near the subjects of study. went to the field but did not live or actively engage with the people to provide information to make people more manageable. subdue indigenous groups. (interviews) interactions artificial and minimized
salvage ethnography
collect data from remaining people to document their social life, language and religious beliefs. tribal cultures inevitable disappearing, convert to forces, powerless to resist forces, try to save what was inevitable disappearing assumption that groups would be understood, relationships between local groups and local forces
- participant observation/ fieldwork (today)
research method for learning about culture through living in a culture for an extended period while gathering data. (learning languages, routines, festivals, expeditions while writing everything down). living with the people and learning their language, participating in their everyday life, adapting practices and values, learning their culture through contact. Record as much as possible (language, songs, rituals, social life) living as closely to the way they live as possible to directly experience application of ideas and beliefs to system of knowledge. collect data on economics, family life, politics, religion. constant choices about where to be, what to observe, with who and what, who lives with who, interactions in public, leaders, followers, work, organize for activities, rituals. go and live with people for a long period of time. principle strategy for gathering data
multisited research
fieldwork conducted in more than one location in order to understand behaviours and ideas of dispersed members of a culture or relationships among different levels (state, policy, local culture). online communities, sports
contemporary ethnographies
local patterns, eider cultural links,
1st stage of cultural anthropology research
project selecting, funding, preparing for the field
finding topic for research project, carrying out literature, review, reading what others have written. choosing particular material item, gap in previous research
restudy
fieldwork conducted in previously researched communities, provides baseline of information on which studies can be built
private/government foundations
research finding on competitive basis
research proposal
required for consideration of funding source. describes project, explains importance, provides info about how research is conducted, costs and results
Second step in cultural anthropology research
preparing for the field, sexual behaviour is potentially sensitive research issue (homosexuality, norms, laws, social stigmas) buying equipment, shots immunization, medical kit, research equipment and supplies, learning local language (intensive language training, local version of standardized language(local interpreter)
informed consent
aspect of fieldwork that the researcher must inform research participants of intent, scope, effects of the study and seek their agreement. reasonable and feasible. written consent not always reasonable or oral-based cultures where most are not-literate. Request a waiver pf informed written consent obtain informed or oral consent
Protection of human subject
institutional review board- researchers follow guidelines
3rd step of cultural anthropology research
working in the field, make itinerary, make friends before, feel welcome, give them an idea of coming back, give something of value, manageable, doable, come to term with unfamiliar culture, learn the language, live as they do, understanding their lives, be a friend , project needs a site, anthropologists need a place to live
4th step in cultural anthropology research
site selection,
research site
where research takes place may involve more than one site. basic idea of where the fieldwork will occur. establishing gaining rapport (critical to getting data)
rapport
trusting relationship between researcher and study population. primary goal is to establish rapport, with key leaders/decision-makers in comment who may serve as gatekeepers (people informally/formally control access to human/material resources to group-community. involves trust of study population, local people may have problems with understanding why people would come to study, may provide inaccurate explanations based on previous experiences with others who has different goals (law, taxes, family planning)
gift giving/exchanging
giving gifts to local people- cultural/ethically appropriate. teaching in local schools helping obtain higher education, appropriate and inappropriate gift, how to deliver gift (timing, private/public, wrapped/unwrapped) how to behave as gift giver (modest)
factors influencing fieldwork
class, race, gender, age, beliefs, find how others are living their lives (meaning), affect the interpretation of researcher, rapport influence achieved
class
expensive equipment, expensive schooling, valuable trade items (researchers) affect how people relate to researchers. study up with business elite, political leaders, government officials, awareness of need in situations, recognition, accountability to the people
race/ethnicity
whiteness (euro-american) god/ancestor spirit, representative of colonial past, censures expression of beliefs, feelings and opinions
gender
female, young unmarried- not to move freely without male. not able to attend certain events or being in certain places. gender boundaries, gender segregation
age
adolescents- more tentative to adult researchers, children trained to understand what they experience- best way to study a culture, each age category has cultural rules and age, specific language that needs to be studied on its own terms
complexity of children’s lives
media depiction of children, intimacy of children play, cultural policies revealed in post-war parliamentary debates (allowances/rights of children) names are important to children identity, cliches mask differences among children according to age, gender, class, location
other factors influencing cultural anthropology research
language, dress, religion
culture shock
persistent feeling of uneasiness, loneliness, anxiety when you shift from a culture to another, more different=more shock, ex. problems with food, language barrier, reduced competence as cultural actor, simple tasks become difficult, self-efficacy is undermined
goal of fieldwork
collect data, info on research, topic variations on what kind/ways to collect
deductive research
starts from research question/hypothesis, involves collecting data related to questions through observation, interviews and other methods
reverse cultural shock
occurs when returning home
inductive research
proceeds without hypothesis, gathering data through unstructured, informal observation, conversation and other methods
etic
data collected according to the researchers questions and categories. analytical framework used by outside analysis in studying a particular culture. goal of being able to test hypothesis (label for dat collected in each approach)
emic
data collected that reflects what insiders say, understand their culture, insiders categories of thinking. what insiders do or perceive about their culture
participating
being part of peoples lives and observing. improve quality of data, more time spent living amongst the people=the people will live normal lives for you
participant
researcher adopts lifestyle of people being studied (housing, eating, clothes, learning, participating)
hawthorne effect
research bias due to participants changing their behaviour to confirm to expectations of behaviour
reflectivity anthropology
constant awareness, assessment, re-assessement by researcher of own contribution or influence on research and findings
interview
gathering verbal data through questions or guided conversation between at least 2 people- purposeful
group interview
focus groups
varying interview skills
kinds of information, time and language skills
open-minded interview
responded takes lead in setting direction of conversation (topics, amount of time) interviewer does not interrupt/ask questions=finding out important themes to the person
questionnaire
formal research instrument contains pre-set series of questions that anthropologists ask face-to-face, mail or email. familiarity with study populations for questions with cultural sense
questions structured close-ended
limit range of possible responses
questions structured open-ended
generally more emic responses
pilot-study
exposes areas with further revision
life history-observational data
qualitative, in depth description of one’s life narrated to researcher- how they think. not so much true or not but more value, what we can learn, what she wants to tell us. data: truly reported
time allocation study-observational data
quantive data that collects data on how people spend their time on activities each day
texts-observational data
textual material- written/oral stories, myths, plays, sayings, jokes, speeches, transcriptions of conversations
archival/historical sources-observational data
insights about present from past preserved in archives (land ownership, agricultural production, religion practices, political activities) in institutions (museums, churches, libraries)
anthropology of memory
import information from past by living with people. study patterns of what people do or don’t remember, culture shapes memories, memories shape culture
triangulation- research method
technique that involves seeking information on a topic from various angles or perspectives to validate (archives, census, oral history)
team projects
with anthropologists researchers from other disciplines provides additional skills
recording culture- field notes
each day, daily logs, journals, description of events and notes
tape recording, video, photos, films
transcribed partially or completely
ethnographic
realist, 3rd person voice, more scientific approach
reflexive
research experience, highly personalized
qualitative analysis
descriptive field notes, narratives, myths, stones, songs. identify key themes and ideas. rendered in quantitive terms. search for themes, regularities in data, exploring, playing with the data, sort for tropes (key themes), ethnographic presentation of quotations, stones, conversations, explanations. analytical commentary. conclusion can give false sense or authorized control, interpretive analysis lack verifiability and reliability (not worthwhile goal) provide plausible interpretation and evocation or new understanding with detail and richness as its strength rather than replicability
quantitive data
numerical info, counting, charting. identify demographic and structure constraints. descriptive analysis of local conditions to accompany graphs, etc. knowledge of stats, lack of depth, richness of understanding.
ethnography (descriptive writing)
local cultures as embedded within regional and global cultures and forces
reflexive ethnographies
explore research experience, generates and presents wider theoretical arguments and analysis. characterized by personalized styles and findings
code of ethics
project camelot, vietnam war, info about events and leaders and return to sponsors
ethics code
anthropologists primary role, ensure safety of people being studied. does not condone, convert of undercover research (should know, who, why)
informed consent
researcher informs participants of intent, scope, effects, content. ethics policies of cross-disciplinary research agencies. project anonymity of people in the study unless they give permission (change names)
ethical guidelines
some topics can be more sensitive and more sensitive to certain groups (abide ethical guideline and host governments)
collaborative research
learning about culture by anthropologists working with members of a study population as partners and teammates not subjects. reconsideration of people being referred to (participant and consultant) ethnography can matter beyond academy
safety in the field
physics/psychological risks (disease, death, mental health problems) social violence (shooting, bombing, gunning, shootout, delirium tremens, PTSD, paranoia)
war zone anthropology
research conducted within zones of violent conflict. important insights, special training and experience.
preventing/dealing with fieldwork risks
risk awareness, training in basic medical care, learning about fieldwork safety
father of participant observation
veranoslow menalanskiw- learn local language, very good connection, argonauts of western pacific-1922
cultural materialists
quantitive data
interpretive anthropologists
qualitative data (descriptive)
interpreters
problematic own political cues, shows only good pictures, interfere withhold.
theoretical orientation and research goals
affect data analysis and presentation
primary role of anthropologists
maintain safety of the people, not engaged in covert research, explain purpose, implications, remain anonymity
fieldwork
- research topic
- field, selecting sites, notes, photos, recording, rapport, culture shock
- participating appropriately\
- quantitive/qualitative data
fieldwork techniques
interviews, questionnaire, watching/assisting, life history, texts/historical sources, team projects = field notes
kula
network linking many of Trobriand Islands in which men have long-standing partnerships for the exchange of everyday goods, such as foods, as well as highly valued necklaces and armlets
