What is the primary method used by anthropologists to study cultures?

Question

What is the primary method used by anthropologists to study cultures?

Answer 1

the most distinctive method would be "participant observation", on the dilemmas and nuances of it, read Geertz.

Answer 2

Participant observation, as others have noted, is the primary method used by anthropologists. The practice of living within a community for an extended period distinguishes anthropology from other ways of knowing. Although most anthropologists use participant observation, the types of data gathered and the interpretation given to the data depend on the research strategy used by the individual anthropologist. There are many competing theories out there, some better than others at grasping the causality of cultural stability and change and the mechanics of transformations, such as the formation of states and so forth. Some of the major research strategies today are human and political ecology, cultural materialism, post-modernism, and others.

Answer 3

I´m not happy with previous answers.

To consider "observation in general" as the primary method (of modern day anthropology) is forgetting that the presence of the researcher is part of the elements to be considered in research, unless nikipetti and rachelbear are advocating for pure objective scientific knowledge.

Dekh and merloque mentioned participant observation, which is definitely closer to what modern anthropologists do, but they define it poorly leaving us with the feeling that all there is to it is "being there".

It is best to consider the use of several methods in anthropology, most of which are qualitative methods. This is the primary characteristic of anthropological methods.

Participant observation is the most "stated" method, though simple field observation is what one will find most often.

Answer 4

Its called field observation.  for example Franz Boas.  He was the one who created this idea to go out and observe other cultures and learn what we could about them.

Answer 5

Participant-observation.  Immersing yourself in the culture for an extended period of time. Conducting interviews (once you've learned the language, ideally).....as Malinowski espoused, getting off the verandah and learning.

Answer 6

observation; joining the culture as much as possible.