Fieldwork in Various Anthropological Schools of Thought Essay

Cultural anthropology is a social science that studies the origins and development of human societies (History World International, 2001). Many theories to explain cultural variations among humans have emerged. As a result, numerous anthropological schools of thought have been established based on these theories since the nineteenth century. These schools of thought encompass the dominant beliefs about culture during a time period and are constantly changing as new knowledge is acquired. As schools of thought develop, ethnographic methods have changed and developed as well. Fieldwork is an ethnographic method that has been implemented in all anthropological schools of thought. It involves gathering data and information about a specific†¦show more content†¦On the other hand, scholars, like Lewis Henry Morgan, did their own fieldwork to study and understand societies. However, scientific methods for collecting data were not developed until decades later. As a result, Morganâ €™s studies have been criticized for being too vast and superficial, as well as having fundamental errors in the interpretation of the data (Tooker, 1992). Ethnographic methods during this time were basic at best and were of little concern to the cultural evolutionists. Franz Boas was one of the first anthropologists to reject the theories of the cultural evolutionists in the beginning of the twentieth century (History World International, 2001). Although he recognized the role of evolution in ancestry, he found the theories of the cultural evolutionists to be scientifically unfounded. Instead, he pioneered historical particularism, the first American-born anthropological school. This school emphasized the individuality of a society and, therefore, to examine it one must look at the cultures environmental, psychological, and, most importantly, historical circumstances (McGee Warms, 2008). With the creation of a new school and his background in physical science, Boas stressed th e importance of ethnographic fieldwork for the first time. McGee and Warms (2008) state that â€Å"Boas advocated a four-field perspective that included studying prehistory, linguistics, and physicalShow MoreRelatedStatement of Purpose for Havard Application661 Words   |  3 Pages In 1995, I burst into tears in entrance ceremony of primary school in China. I was the only one in school who was not granted a red scarf. As a seven-year-old, I thought it was the red scarf that divided me from others. I badgered the school principal until I was finally allowed to be the first foreign student in school who owned a red scarf, only to find out that wearing a red scarf to school made little difference. Ever since, my identity has roamed somewhere between an insider and an outsiderRead MoreThroughout This Cultural Anthropology Class, One Consistent1451 Words   |  6 Pagesinitiative, the Confucius Institute. During these programs, Chinese teachers came to the United States to educate American students about Chinese culture and language, as paid for by the Chinese state. Hubbert conducted her fieldwork at one such Confucius Institute at a high school in Southern California. These programs provide an insight on definitions of the state, as well as how it is perceived b y both outsiders and insiders. This article should be included in the Cultural Anthropology syllabus becauseRead MoreAn Understanding Of Gender Perception, Gender, And Gender Essay1582 Words   |  7 Pagestheories of gender in our part of the world should address is: What are the socio-cultural sources of power and authority in the region that constitute culture and regulate gender perception, gender role assignment, and gender subversion? Among the various sources of power and authority, seven stand out: history, Islam, multilingualism, orality, social organization, economic status, and political system.† II. METHODS Research Setting This research will be conducted with a non-governmental organizationRead MoreWhat Is Anthropology? How Does Observing With An Anthropological Manner Help Us Understand The World?1548 Words   |  7 Pages What is anthropology? How does observing with an anthropological manner help us understand the world? According to Kenneth Guest, anthropology is: â€Å"The study of the full scope of human diversity, past and present, and the application of that knowledge to help people of different backgrounds better understand one another† (Guest 7). Anthropology helps one better understand and engage with the world as he or she moves through it. Specifically, cultural anthropology is: â€Å"The study of people s communitiesRead MoreSocial And Cultural Groups Become A Key Tool For Harmony On The Global Stage1601 Words   |  7 Pagesthe global nations are quickly being re-established with determination. It is in this time that the anthropological examinations of various social and cultu ral groups become a key tool for harmony on the global stage. It is through the dissection of data collected through fieldwork that true anthropological understanding other cultures is best achieved. This essay will reflect on the anthropological contributions of two writers who have both touched on the issues of borders and how they affect peopleRead MoreWhat is anthropology and why we should study it?1857 Words   |  8 PagesAnthropologists seek to understand both the cultural and individual bases for behavior; and how political, economic, and social factors affect both the individuals and various groups. Although statistical and other quantitative methods are used, much of Cultural Anthropology is qualitative-descriptive. Classical anthropological fieldwork requires prolonged residence (of one or more years) with a particular group in order to understand their way of life. Until World War II, Cultural Anthropology focusedRead MorePhilosophical Implications of Cultural Relativism4081 Words   |  17 Pagesreadily understandable language, supporting with reasons from other ideas, principles, and observations to establish conclusion and overcome objections. It is to understand the principle of cultural relativism by disintegrating and clarifying its various components like: 1. Research-oriented tool to tackle its opposite attitude of ‘ethnocentrism’. 2. Ethical theory in order to understand other culture in its own perspective. 3. Logical analysis to evaluate the principle for it integrity. 4. CriticalRead MoreCritical Evaluation of Articles by Russel (2005) and Brown Et Al. (2005)] Critical Evaluation of Articles by Russel (2005) and Brown Et Al. (2005)]3636 Words   |  15 PagesNottingham University Business School MSc Programmes [Research Methods for Finance and Investment] [Critical Evaluation of Articles by Russel (2005) and Brown et al. (2005)] [Konstantin Dambaev] Student ID: [4158276] Word count: 3007 (without headings), 3234 (with headings). COPY [1] It’s a question of trust: Balancing the relationship between students and teachers in ethnographic fieldwork Russell, L. 1. The researcher says that â€Å"[i]ntense observationsRead MoreDo Muslim Women Really Need Saving?7400 Words   |  30 PagesDo Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others Author(s): Lila Abu-Lughod Reviewed work(s): Source: American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 104, No. 3 (Sep., 2002), pp. 783-790 Published by: Blackwell Publishing on behalf of the American Anthropological Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3567256 . Accessed: 18/01/2012 15:55 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms Conditions of Use, available atRead MoreMethods of Qualitative of Data Collection19658 Words   |  79 Pages13, 1997 Observation 12:40 p.m. Observer’s comments There are 17 children in the room. There are 3 adults: 1 teacher, 1 classroom assistant, and 1 student teacher (the student teacher is an older woman). The room is in the basement of the school. The school is a brick building approximately 90 to 100 years old. The room is about 40 feet by 30 feet. The room is carpeted and is sectioned off by furniture. There is an area with big books and a chart in the left-hand back corner of the room. Next to