Anthropological Methods

This exhibit explains various research methods in anthropology. The methods are listed on the left menu. In order to effectively use each method, anthropologists need to develop the following characteristics:

Open-mind

An anthropologist needs to be open-minded when he or she learns about a new culture or a group of people. In other words, the researcher should not judge the culture or people based on his or her own cultural background. Non-judgmental attitudes will help the researcher understand the people and will also build trust with them.

Language skills

Knowing the language of people is crucial for understanding them. Even if anthropologists conduct research in their own society, they still need to be familiar with dialects, jargon, and other unique terms used by the group of people.

Objectivity

When collecting and analyzing data, anthropologists need to be aware of the fact that their data can be affected by their own opinions, values and experiences.

Perceptiveness

In order to record people’s daily lives, anthropologists need to be attentive to small details, such as people’s clothes, furniture in a house, facial expressions, things that people are holding in their hands, etc.

Memory

It is important for anthropologists to accurately remember what they see and hear. They usually carry small notebooks and jot down key words. They refer to the notebooks when they write detailed descriptions later.

Writing skills

Anthropologists need to develop their writing skills in order to clearly describe their observations in detail.

Ethics

When anthropologists conduct research, they need to be considerate of people’s rights. Their research activities should not harm people. Their data should not be used in a damaging manner. Below is the weblink to the ethical codes of the American Anthropological Association: http://www.aaanet.org/committees/ethics/ethcode.htm

Source:

• Bernard, Russell H. 2002 Research Methods in Anthropology: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods. Walnut Creek: AltaMira Press.

This page was created by a Minnesota State University, Mankato student. Last updated 11/14/04.