Overview
This lecture covers key anthropological research methods, focusing on participant observation, the roles of insider and outsider perspectives, and best practices for field note-taking.
Participant Observation
- Participant observation involves living with a group for an extended period while engaging in their daily activities.
- Anthropologists gather data through informants, who provide cultural insights during semi-structured interviews.
- Semi-structured interviews use open-ended questions to collect explicit (easily described) and tacit (difficult to explain) cultural knowledge.
- Researchers may need to learn new languages, adapt to different diets, hygiene, social norms, climates, and cultural roles.
Insider vs Outsider Perspectives
- Outsiders (etic perspective) may notice cultural elements insiders overlook.
- Insiders (emic perspective) believe their way of understanding the world is universal.
- A main challenge is whether outsiders can ever truly understand another culture.
Observation and Note Taking
- Field notes must be detailed concrete descriptions, capturing the full context of incidents.
- Good notes include who was involved, location, tone, direct quotes, actions, and outcomes.
- Anthropologists must practice reflexivity, avoiding judgment based on their own cultural standards.
Concrete vs Vague Notes
- Vague notes merely summarize the event and participants (e.g., “Student A spoke angrily...").
- Concrete notes provide full detail, including actions, words, emotions, and outcomes (e.g., direct quotes and specific behaviors).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Participant Observation — Living with a group and participating in daily life to study their culture.
- Informant — A member of the culture who provides information to an anthropologist.
- Explicit Cultural Knowledge — Easily explained cultural information like myths or family structures.
- Tacit Cultural Knowledge — Cultural information that is known but hard to articulate, such as nonverbal communication.
- Etic Perspective — The outsider’s viewpoint in studying a culture.
- Emic Perspective — The insider’s viewpoint in interpreting cultural behavior.
- Reflexivity — The practice of self-reflection and avoiding external judgment when observing another culture.
- Concrete Notes — Detailed field notes capturing all aspects of an observed event.
- Vague Notes — Minimal descriptions lacking detail and context.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Decide which perspective (etic or emic) might be most beneficial in anthropological fieldwork and justify your choice.
- Practice writing field notes, ensuring they capture concrete detail.