Short Answer Questions
1) What is anthropology?
Anthropology is the study of humanity.
2) What are the general principles of anthropology and what is important about each?
Anthropology is global, comparative, holistic, empirical, and relative. It is global because we are all human, therefore we all take some interest in the study of humanity. It is comparative because we look at human behaviors in context, comparing them with general human behavior. It is holistic because anthropology is a broad subject, which covers nearly every aspect of the human experience. It is empirical because, unlike philosophy, anthropology is a science which studies humanity through research and scientific investigation. It is relative because all observations and findings are interpreted through the terms of one's own culture.
3) What are the four subfields of anthropology?
Cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, archeology, and linguistic anthropology.
4) What are the basic approaches and methods of each subfield?
Cultural anthropologists uses mainly ethnography which is an empirical or hands on approach to studying people and how they live. They aim to study cultural variation among humans, and examine the impact of political and economic processes on local cultural realities.
1) What is anthropology?
Anthropology is the study of humanity.
2) What are the general principles of anthropology and what is important about each?
Anthropology is global, comparative, holistic, empirical, and relative. It is global because we are all human, therefore we all take some interest in the study of humanity. It is comparative because we look at human behaviors in context, comparing them with general human behavior. It is holistic because anthropology is a broad subject, which covers nearly every aspect of the human experience. It is empirical because, unlike philosophy, anthropology is a science which studies humanity through research and scientific investigation. It is relative because all observations and findings are interpreted through the terms of one's own culture.
3) What are the four subfields of anthropology?
Cultural anthropology, physical anthropology, archeology, and linguistic anthropology.
4) What are the basic approaches and methods of each subfield?
Cultural anthropologists uses mainly ethnography which is an empirical or hands on approach to studying people and how they live. They aim to study cultural variation among humans, and examine the impact of political and economic processes on local cultural realities.
Linguistic anthropologists attempt to link language to sociocultural processes. They do this simply by comparing and analyzing languages with the cultures they are associated with.
Physical anthropologists use knowledge of skeletal structure, and DNA testing to study human evolution, genetics, and variation.
Archaeologists use methods such as regional surveys, dating, sampling, and excavation to better understand past human cultures.
5) What is a subject each of the subfields would examine?
Cultural anthropologists may compare and contrast the pottery forms in different cultures.
Linguistic anthropologists might study how social interactions or a sense of social space are reflected in the way a language is used.
Archaeologists may examine pottery scattered across a given excavation site for clues on the social status, gender, or wealth of the person who owned the pottery.
Physical anthropologists may examine burial sites to find more information about the gender, age, and race of the individuals buried there.
6) Identify a subject which two or more subfields would study. How would each subfield approach that subject differently?
Upon finding a skeleton, physical anthropologists might be more concerned with finding more information about the gender or age of the person, while archaeologists might be more interested in finding out how old the skeleton itself is.
5) What is a subject each of the subfields would examine?
Cultural anthropologists may compare and contrast the pottery forms in different cultures.
Linguistic anthropologists might study how social interactions or a sense of social space are reflected in the way a language is used.
Archaeologists may examine pottery scattered across a given excavation site for clues on the social status, gender, or wealth of the person who owned the pottery.
Physical anthropologists may examine burial sites to find more information about the gender, age, and race of the individuals buried there.
6) Identify a subject which two or more subfields would study. How would each subfield approach that subject differently?
Upon finding a skeleton, physical anthropologists might be more concerned with finding more information about the gender or age of the person, while archaeologists might be more interested in finding out how old the skeleton itself is.
