Method & Theory in Cultural AnthropologyMethod & Theory in

Cultural Anthropology

Intro to Cultural AnthropologyProf. J. Fortier

Intro to Cultural AnthropologyProf. J. Fortier

EthnographyEthnography

Writing after having done fieldwork

Distinctive to cultural anthropology

Part of early Anthro traditions

Writing after having done fieldwork

Distinctive to cultural anthropology

Part of early Anthro traditions

Lizette Muñoz & Prof. Fortier talking with Quechua farmer

Ethnographic Techniques: Participant Observation

Ethnographic Techniques: Participant Observation

Participate in activities

Observe behaviors

Participate in activities

Observe behaviors

Learning about Wild Yams fromBanraji community in India

Conversation & InterviewingConversation & Interviewing

Structured questionnaire

Non-random samples

Check validityQuantitative &

qualitative questions

Structured questionnaire

Non-random samples

Check validityQuantitative &

qualitative questions

Sam Brown, Kumeyaay ElderDuring interview about CuyamacaArea memories & places

Kinship or Genealogical Interviews

Kinship or Genealogical Interviews

Kinship chartingBasic to most

ethnographic studies

Kin links reflect social & political structures of many societies

Kinship chartingBasic to most

ethnographic studies

Kin links reflect social & political structures of many societies

Key Cultural ConsultantsKey Cultural Consultants

Often eldersWise,

knowledgeableLoquaciousKey informantsexperienced

Often eldersWise,

knowledgeableLoquaciousKey informantsexperienced

Raute elder from Nepal,a key cultural consultant

Life HistoriesLife Histories

Good way to get longer view of cultural changes

Record distinctive people’s biographies

Personal standpoints are recorded

Good way to get longer view of cultural changes

Record distinctive people’s biographies

Personal standpoints are recordedLife histories of two elders,

focusing on how their senses have contributed to being Yolmo

Local knowledge & beliefsLocal knowledge & beliefs

Ethnographies record emic viewsLocal, insider’s,

native, experiential

Other studies can record etic viewsScientific,

comparative, non-experiential

Ethnographies record emic viewsLocal, insider’s,

native, experiential

Other studies can record etic viewsScientific,

comparative, non-experiential

Shamanic knowledge involves altered states of consciousness

Problem-oriented ethnography

Problem-oriented ethnography

What is the research question?

What problem or issue is to be studied?

Are there rapid assessment techniques?

Consulting archives? Whose problems are

solved? Ethnical issues?

What is the research question?

What problem or issue is to be studied?

Are there rapid assessment techniques?

Consulting archives? Whose problems are

solved? Ethnical issues?

Video ethnographyenhances design studioclient’s needs

Longitudinal ResearchLongitudinal Research

Long-term study of a community

Based on repeated visits over many years

Repeated collection of censuses, quantitative data

Allows for different research questions

Long-term study of a community

Based on repeated visits over many years

Repeated collection of censuses, quantitative data

Allows for different research questions

Chronicles the importance of knowledge in the ability of people to reproduce themselves and their practices over time

Team Research in Ethnography

Team Research in Ethnography

Animal Husbandry & butchery of animals

Marriage, sex, and gender in Mayan families

Life History of a Pisté woman Religion and local protestant

churches TESL classroom experiences Student success in Mayan

families Production of local Maya art History of families working at

the archaeological zone of Chichén Itza

Ideas about Race among Youth

Animal Husbandry & butchery of animals

Marriage, sex, and gender in Mayan families

Life History of a Pisté woman Religion and local protestant

churches TESL classroom experiences Student success in Mayan

families Production of local Maya art History of families working at

the archaeological zone of Chichén Itza

Ideas about Race among Youth

www.osea-cite.org(The Open School of Ethnography & Anthropology)

Contemporary EthnographiesContemporary Ethnographies

Attention to scales of culture and place

Older ethnographies focus on distinct ethnic groups, villages, or cultures

Contemporary ethnog’s select distinct aspects of these

Attention to scales of culture and place

Older ethnographies focus on distinct ethnic groups, villages, or cultures

Contemporary ethnog’s select distinct aspects of these

Tourism & folk dance in Mérida,Yucatan, Mexico; www.osea-site.org

Ethnography & Survey Research

Ethnography & Survey Research

Studies sample pop’nLittle personal contactUses small # of

variablesUsed in writing-based,

literate societiesCodes answers for

statistical analysis

Holistic: Studies whole communities

First-hand, direct research experience

Often carried out in small-scale societies

Emph. On description, qualitative research

Holistic: Studies whole communities

First-hand, direct research experience

Often carried out in small-scale societies

Emph. On description, qualitative research

Ethnography: Mix of Methods

Ethnography: Mix of Methods

Quantitative & qualitative

Long-term w/ short-term follow-ups

Collaborative research

“Bifocal” - viewing local and global effects on people

Quantitative & qualitative

Long-term w/ short-term follow-ups

Collaborative research

“Bifocal” - viewing local and global effects on people

The Karki family, key cultural consultantsIn Nepal