METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY:Comments on Fieldwork

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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology SOC401

Lesson 05

METHODS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Fieldwork

A distinctive feature of Cultural Anthropology is its reliance on experiential fieldwork as a primary way of

conducting research.

Cultural Anthropologists collect cultural data and test their hypothesis by carrying out fieldwork in different

parts of the world. The areas where this fieldwork is conducted can include both urban and rural areas in

highly industrialized rich countries or poor developing nations of the world. Detailed anthropological

studies have been undertaken to study the way in which people belonging to different cultures and sub-

cultures think and behave.

Comments on Fieldwork

Since the credibility of ethnographic studies rests on their methods of research (often termed the

methodology), so cultural anthropologists have begun focusing on how to conduct fieldwork.

While every fieldwork situation is unique, there are a number of issues in common, like the need to prepare

for fieldwork or to obtain permission from the country's government where this research is to be

conducted. Even if a researcher is doing research within his/her own country, often permission from the

concerned level of the local government is required, particularly if thee research is considering how

government structures/institutions (like schools or health clinics for example) effect the lives and behavior

of a particular group of people.

Stages of Fieldwork

Selecting a research problem

Formulating a research design

Collecting the data

Analyzing the data

Interpreting the data

Selecting a Research Problem

Cultural Anthropologists have moved away from general ethnographies to research that is focused, specific

and problem oriented

The problem oriented approach involves formulation of a hypothesis which is then tested in a fieldwork

setting

Formulating a Research Design

The independent variable is capable of effecting change in the dependent variable. The dependent variable is the

one that we wish to explain, whereas the independent variable is the hypothesized explanation. If we want

to look at the effect of urbanization on family interactions, the independent variable will be urbanization.

Defining Dependent Variables

Dependent variables must be defined specifically so they can be measured quantitatively.

To ascertain family interaction, the following issues deserve attention:

Residence Patterns

Visitation Patterns

Mutual Assistance

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology SOC401

Formal Family Gatherings

Collecting and Analyzing Data

Once the hypothesis is made concrete, the data is collected through an appropriate data collection

technique. Once collected, the data is coded to facilitate analysis. For example, if a questionnaire is being

used to get views of 100 people in a given community, all those people who say yes to a given question

could be identified using a code to obtain a statistical number. Then, a similar questionnaire in another

community could identify people responding positively to the same question. In this way, a researcher could

compare how many people in both communities responded positively to the same question. In addition to

surveys, other research techniques can also be coded (even ethnographies can be coded) to enable

comparison of peoples' attitudes and behavior in different communities.

Interpreting the Data

Interpretation is the most difficult step in research, which involves explaining the findings to refute or

accept the hypothesis. A researcher could hypothesize that there is a link between urbanization and

increasing poverty and then go into a community to see if increasing poverty is responsible for more people

shifting into the city, based on these findings the hypothesis could either be rejected or accepted.

Findings of a particular study can be compared to similar studies in other areas to get more extensive

information about a particular problem or how different communities with different cultures deal with

similar problems. The problem of poverty and how different people react to this problem is a good example

of a research problem that can be examined by different researchers and their findings compared to see how

different cultures respond when they are faced by poverty.

Need for Flexibility

A technique originally mentioned in the research proposal can prove to be impractical in the field. Cultural

anthropologists need some options and remain flexible in choosing an appropriate technique given

surrounding circumstances.

Difficulties in Fieldwork

Research in remote locations, carries risks such as exposure to diseases or different forms of social violence

Researchers can encounter psychological disorientation, commonly termed `culture shock', when they have to

live and deal with circumstances completely alien to their own surrounds.

Researchers must also try to find a balance between subjectivity and objectivity, if they want to assure the

quality of their research and to prevent its criticism on the basis of being biased by the researcher's own

viewpoints. Many anthropological studies have been criticized for being biased or ethnocentric in their

attempt to look at how other people live.

Useful Terms

Ethnography: detailed anthropological study of a culture undertaken by a researcher

Ethnocentric: the view that one's own cultural is superior

Data: collection of facts

Biased: prejudiced, holding an unfair view

Culture shock: psychological disorientation brought on due to cultural difference

Suggested Readings

Students are advised to read the following chapters to develop a better understanding of the various

principals highlighted in this hand-out:

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology SOC401

Chapter 5 in `Cultural Anthropology: An Applied Perspective' by Ferrarro and/or Chapter 14 and 28 in `Anthropology'

by Ember and Pergrine

Internet Resources

In addition to reading from the textbook, please visit the following website for this lecture:

Cultural Anthropology: Methods

http://www.qvctc.commnet.edu/brian/methods.html

Use the hyperlinks on the above website to read up on the following Methods of Research in Cultural

Anthropology for today's lecture:

Participant observation

Survey research

Interviews

(Document Analysis)

Archival research

Media analysis

Historical analysis

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