The Work Conducted By A Researcher

Calcagno (2003) emphasizes the importance of encouraging biocultural approaches to research. In order to be holistic it is necessary that the research used is widespread across the anthropological sub disciplines (Riley. E, 2006). Calcagno identifies how this approach is easily discussed in practice, but this can be significantly harder to produce successfully in practical settings. The tension surrounding this is due to preceding conflicts in procedures and philosophies disrupting their ability to coexist in the research subfields. Calcagno uses the data collected by Borofsky that indicated the holistic

Anthropology is a study of humankind in all places at all times as one may say it is an observer of human mind. This essay will critically discuss the following keys. Firstly, it will start by defining the term holistic than it will critically discuss the statement which says why anthropology has been describe as holistic study of humankind. Secondly, it will concisely discuss four subfields which are linguistic anthropology, socio-cultural anthropology, physical or biological anthropology, and archaeological anthropology by linking them with the above statement explaining their role in making the discipline holistic. Lastly, it will conclude by refreezing the important aspects that this essay has captured in the discussion.

An anthropologist usually, at the beginning of their career, conduct ethnographic research in a foreign country or remote location to validate themselves as a “bonafide anthropologist” (Brondo 43). Eventually however, the anthropologist will return home often to conduct research around their own familiar ethnic group. Tsuda refers to the anthropologists return to familiar territory as an “Ethnographic homecoming” (Brondo 44). The use of ethnographic methods in the anthropologist’s home or familiar environment is what Tsuda means by “native anthropology”.

The purpose of this reading was to introduce what ethnography is and what exactly do anthropologists do. Ethnography is based on the fact that in order to fully understand a culture, it is best to observe the culture itself and to interact with them over a long period of time. The authors, Monaghan and Just, do fieldwork. Fieldwork is commonly done in small communities with very simplistic lifestyles so to say. In the first chapter, Peter Just did his fieldwork in the Village of Dorro Ntika. In order to be successful with this research, Peter had to build trust and create a good relationship with the people of the native tribe. Meaning Peter was able to learn well beyond the superficial facts. To be an ethnographer one must commit to years

Before an anthropologist is to set foot in another man’s land; research is first to be done. An anthropologist will read up on previous studies and articles done by past anthropologists.

The book has been written when the anthropology field is undergoing critical technological advancement. It is aimed at reaching generations that are experiencing problems with self-identification, power and over-ambitious objectives. This post-modern anthropology insists that the outside is of importance just like the inside (Strathern 1988:65). The foreign culture in the report has been disregarded due to lack of proper authenticity and instead the ethnography front page space has been taken over by the backstage field workers and self-questioning commentary.

Anthropology, as a discipline in the field of human sciences, is based on certain ethical principles to guide its practitioners through their research. This creates a stable framework on which to start any research project. Avoiding deviation, however, can be complicated. Anthropologists have a responsibility to their field,

Watson believes that anthropologists like many other social scientists do very little compared to what their counterparts in the natural science perform especially when describing their equipment alongside the conditions under which their research was conducted (Watson, 1999). It is high time anthropologists became explicit about themselves, the primary tool for gathering vital information and autobiographical features of their

The title for the position itself expresses the need for a focus on qualitative methods, which as stated above has been greatly crafted through the combination of tools and methods learned in the discipline. The section, Primary Purpose, calls even further for a need of expertise in qualitative and mixed method research. Regarding quantitative methods, anthropologists would likely develop these skills, perhaps not to a similar level of expertise as those of qualitative methods. However, by using a mix of both qualitative and quantitative methods it would not be a major weakness in this context as expertise in qualitative methods can support those in quantitative. As the primary purpose, it is clear that this strength of anthropology is the most fundamental within this context. It is with this skill that they would find a great deal of success, if they are able to surpass the challenge of communication and interpersonal connection as will be discussed

Fieldwork is fundamental for an anthropologist, Heather Paxson anthropologist on the video said that being in the fieldwork gives you better understanding and helps the anthropologist to ask better questions, it is also interesting to see that fieldwork can be found at various locations and scenes. The whole video gives a better understanding of how important fieldwork is for anthropologist. Participant observant is crucial to ethnographers.

Malinowski explains within Argonauts of the Western Pacific that the appropriate conditions for ethnographic work entails cutting yourself off from familiar company and completely immersing yourself within the community you are studying. He describes “remaining in close contact with the natives…which can only be achieved by camping right in their villages.” Malinowski also states that the ethnographer must have “real scientific aims”, and must understand the significance of the scientific method, such as how to collect and manipulate

When preparing for my fieldwork I read so much about the field, that I had a feeling I had already been there for a while. I had the feeling I already knew the people and knew their motives, because of all the researches I already read. I almost forgot that I went into the field in order to research my hypotheses and to examine perceptions of L.A. women, instead of just confirming my own assumptions. It is important to be aware of one’s one assumptions and ideas about which way your research is heading. An anthropologist also needs to accept that one’s own assumptions and ideas of the field one’s entering, is always the researcher’s subjectivity, and one should be aware of these assumptions in order to be as objective as possible. The strength of anthropology lies in going back to the emic perspective of the research population and the setting one’s academic ego and expectations

‘Ethnography is branch of anthropology which has aided social researchers in the quest for a deeper understanding of different societies, social groups or cultures’ (Hammersely, 1995p365). The purpose this essay is to gain an insight into the problems that researchers encounter when the try to gain access to certain fields they wish to investigate. There are many obstacles associated with this research approach and invariably can impact on the outcome of the

Basically, it’s when an anthropologist conducts research by immersing themselves into a community instead of just reading about a society. The ethnographic method employs what is known as “participant observation,” which is fieldwork done by both observing and participating in an event. To gain information through the ethnographic method, an anthropologist can conduct both formal and informal interviews, and gain both qualitative and quantitative data. An example of a formal interview would be a sit down interview with a town official with structured questions, whereas an informal interview might be a dinner with a local family and gaining information by just talking to them and holding a

Throughout the field of anthropology, interviews are conducted day in and day out in order to collect valuable data to contribute to rich ethnographic records on cultures that may not be as familiar to us as our own. The concept of interviewing is one that has been around for many years, especially since the shift from armchair anthropology to “in the field” work. This paper will examine the pros and cons of face-to-face interviewing, as well as illuminating the progression to other methods of qualitative data collection, specifically the use of telephone and email interviewing. Throughout the examination of these different methods and how using interviews in an anthropological setting is conducted, it will become clear that the