Methods and Fieldwork in Anthropology

ethnographic techniques

• direct, firsthand observation

• conversation

• the genealogical method

• detailed work with key consultants

• in-depth interviewing

• problem-orientated research

• longitudinal research

• team research

observation and participant observation

ethnographers pay attention to and record the details of daily life

observation and participant observation methods

• keep a personal diary

• strive to establish rapport

• ethnographer cannot be totally impartial and detached

interview schedule

form used to structure a formal, but personal, interview

questionnare

form used by sociologists to obtain comparable information from respondents

genealogical method

using diagrams and symbols to record kin connections

key cultural consultant

expert on a particular aspect of local life

life history

a personal portrait of someone’s life in a culture → reveals how specific people perceive, react to, and contribute to changes that affect their lives

problem-oriented ethnography

most ethnographers enter the field with a specific problem to investigate, researchers gather information on factors such as population, density, environmental quality, climate, physical geography, diet, and land use

longitudinal research

long-term study of community, region, society, culture, or other unit, usually based on repeat visits

emic approach

investigates how members of a culture think, categorize the world, express thoughts, and interpret stimuli (through the eyes of the informant)

etic approach

emphasizes categorizes, interpretations, and features that the anthropologist considers important (through the eyes of the researcher)

online ethnography

virtual worlds such as World of Warcraft allow study of forms of play, performance, creativity, and ritual

survey research design

sampling, collecting impersonal data, and statistical analysis

sample

smaller study group chosen to represent a larger population

random sample

all members of the population have an equal statistical chance of being chosen for inclusion

variables

attributes that differ from one person or case to the next

complex societies

large, populous societies with social stratification and central governments

American Anthropological Association guidelines

• do no harm

• be open and honest regarding your work

• obtain informed consent and necessary permissions

• weigh competing ethical obligations due collaborators and affected parties

• make your results accesible

• protect and preserve your records

• maintain respectful and ethical professional relationships

2 main methods for archaeological fieldwork

survey and excavation

archaeological site

an archaeological site is a place in which evidence of a past activity is preserved. sites may range from those with few or no remains visible above to ground, to buildings and other structures still in use. traditionally, sites are distinguished by the presence of both artifacts and features

archaeological survey

reconnaissance of a geographic area with the purpose of recording the evidence of archaeological presence scientifically

structural survey

when the research goals are focused on the settlement patterns and/or the relationship between these and the landscape

excavation strategies

• testing pits

• area

• trenches

• geological layers vs. artificial layers

excavation sampling

1. random

2. stratified random

3. systematic