Methods and Investigations

Methods and Investigations

1. Emic: Native point of view/ insider perspective

2. Eric: Outsiders interpretation/Objective

3. POSITIVISTS

   • Anthropology is a scientific discipline
   • Society can be studied using similar methods to natural sciences
   • Impossible to repeat (unreliable) can't establish causes of social events

4. Malinowski and Boas

   • Set out to acquire an emic perspective but objectively.
   • Attempts to observe an objective reality

5. Interpretivists

   • Emic perspective is the goal
   • Anthropological research is partial truth influenced by the background of the researcher
   • Qualitative data

6. Ethical issues

   • Deception
     • Nancy Scheper Hughes organ sellers arrested by the FBI
   • Right to withdraw
   • Informed consent
     • Philippe Bourgois acquired consent from drug users when they were high. Not informed consent
   • Privacy
   • Safety

7. How do anthropologists choose their topic?

   • location
     • Accessibility
   • funding
   • Personal interest
   • Raise awareness
     • Approval from the government
   • Researcher attributes
     • Theoretical standpoint