Cultural Anthropology: Chapter 3
Anonymity
Protecting the identities of the people involved in a study by changing or omitting their names or other identifying characteristics. (page 101)
Quantitative data
Statistical information about a community that can be measured and compared. (page 89)
Ethnology
The analysis and comparison of ethnographic data across cultures. (page 95)
Mapping
The analysis of the physical and/or geographic space where fieldwork is being conducted. (page 91)
Field notes
The anthropologist's written observations and reflections on places, practices, events, and interviews. (page 90)
Built environment
The intentionally designed features of human settlement, including buildings, transportation and public service infrastructure, and public spaces. (page 92)
Mutual transformation
The potential for both the anthropologist and the members of the community being studied to be transformed by the interactions of fieldwork. (page 94)
Polyvocality
The practice of using many different voices in ethnographic writing and research question development, allowing the reader to hear more directly from the people in the study. (page 96)
Anthropologist's toolkit
The tools needed to conduct fieldwork, including information, perspectives, strategies and even equipment. (page 88)
Key informant
A community member who advises the anthropologist on community issues, provides feedback, and warns against cultural miscues. Also called cultural consultant. (page 90)
Reflexivity
A critical self-examination of the role the anthropologist plays and an awareness that one's identity affects one's fieldwork and theoretical analyses. (page 84)
Kinship analysis
A fieldwork strategy of examining interlocking relationships of power built on marriage and family ties. (page 90)
Life history
A form of interview that traces the biography of a person over time, examining changes in the person's life and illuminating the interlocking network of relationships in the community. (page 90)
Participant observation
A key anthropological research strategy involving both participation in and observation of the daily life of the people being studied. (page 82)
Informed consent
A key strategy for protecting those being studied by ensuring that they are fully informed of the goals of the project and have clearly indicated their consent to participate. (page 100)
Social network analysis
A method for examining relationships in a community, often conducted by identifying whom people turn to in times of need. (page 90)
Ethnographic fieldwork
A primary research strategy in cultural anthropology typically involving living and interacting with a community of people over an extended period to better understand their lives. (page 75)
Emic
An approach to gathering data that investigates how local people think and how they understand the world. (page 95)
Survey
An information-gathering tool for quantitative data analysis. (page 90)
Engaged anthropology
Applying the research strategies and analytical perspectives of anthropology to address concrete challenges facing local communities and the world at large. (page 85)
Etic
Description of local behavior and beliefs from the anthropologist's perspective in ways that can be compared across cultures. (page 95)
Qualitative data
Descriptive data drawn from non-statistical sources, including personal stories, interviews, life histories, and participant observation. (page 89)
Zeros
Elements of a story or a picture that are not told or seen and yet offer key insights into issues that might be too sensitive to discuss or display publicly. (page 94)
Salvage ethnography
Fieldwork strategy developed by Franz Boas to collect cultural, material, linguistic, and biological information about Native American populations being devastated by the westward expansion of European settlers. (page 81)
