Mid-Term Flashcards
Study Guide
The Four Field Approach to Anthropology
Field 1: Physical or Biological Anthropology; Field 2: Archaeology; Field 3: Linguistic Anthropology; Field 4: Cultural Anthropology.
Applied Anthropology
The use of anthropological knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems.
Cultural Relativism
A concept that states that cultures are different and should be understood on their own terms.
Moral Relativism
The idea that there is no universal or absolute set of moral principles.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
A committee that reviews research projects involving human subjects to ensure the safety and rights of the participants.
Cultural Stopping Points
Refer to the limits of how far anthropologists are willing to go in terms of their research agenda.
Reflexivity
the researcher’s awareness of an analytic focus on his or her relationship to the field of study
Culture
Culture is the shared set of values ,ideas, concepts, and rules of behavior that allow a social group to function
Culture Shock or Disorientation
A feeling of uncertainty or anxiety that affects people that are immersed in a culture.
Emic
An approach to studying a culture from inside the culture.
Etic
An approach to studying a culture from outside of the culture.
Reflexivity Effect
the researcher;s awareness of an analytic focus on his or her relationship to field of study
Participation-Observation
participating in the social interaction of another society on a daily basis in order to learn about its culture
Boomerang Effect
Occurs when a strategic message generates the opposite attitude or behavior than was originally intended.
Armchair Anthropology
An early and discredited method of anthropological research that did not involve direct contact with the people studied.
Rites of Passage
ceremonial ritual that signifies an important life transition, usually consisting of three stages: separation, liminality (the transitional phase), and incorporation.
Margaret Mead
American anthropologist best known for her studies of the peoples of Oceania.
Franz Boas
Father of modern American anthropology; argued for cultural relativism and historical particularism.
The Ethnographic Record
A written account of a culture or society that is based on participant observation and analysis.
The Human Relations Area File
A database system created to support cross-cultural and archaeological research by offering indexed passages from texts in a highly detailed manner.
Qualitative Research
Method used by anthropologists to study the meanings, beliefs, and experiences of individuals and groups.
Quantitative Research
A method used by anthropologists to study patterns and trends within large datasets.
Ruth Benedict
American anthropologist whose theories had a profound influence on cultural anthropology, especially in the area of culture and personality.
Linguistic Anthropology
Studies the nature of human languages in the context of those cultures that developed them.
Biological/Physical Anthropology
The study of the past and present evolution of the human species.
Cultural Flows
The movement of peoples, ideas, and material goods across sociopolitical boundaries.
Archaeology
The study of the ancient and recent human past through material remains.
Salvage Anthropology
a quest to document cultures and languages perceived as on the verge of extinction
The Ethnographic Present
refers to a concept in anthropology where researchers describe a culture or society as if it exists in a static state
Ethnography
a research method that involves studying people in their own environment to understand their culture and way of life
Anthropology
The study of the human race, its culture and society, and its physical development.
Culture Anthroplogy
the branch of anthropology concerned with the study of human societies and cultures and their development
