What can I research for the Research Methods in Anthropology class?

Question

I'm a week into the class and I already have to submit my research areas - only my professor is a sociologist, and I'm an Anthropology major. I'm not really sure where to start - do you have any suggestions? Keep in mind this is a Research Methods class, so after my research proposal I'll be following up with fieldwork.

Of course I'm not looking for anyone to do my homework, I'm just looking for inspiration. Thanks!

Answer 1

I had to do this about 26 years ago and I know exactly WHY you are asking this! There is so much cognitive dissonance between these two disciplines it is virtually impossible for somebody trained in one to drop the perspective long enough to do the other.  

I chose to focus on male and female speech communities and nonverbal and verbal communication in a public place - this allowed me to do anthropology while pretending to do sociology and incorporated my interests in gender, communication and social power.

My advice is to think of stuff that interests you in anthro and see how it can be squeezed into a sociological approach.  If nothing else, you will likely end up doing something your prof has never seen before.