Deck 5: Methods in Cultural Anthropology

Question 1

Which of the following is not a common approach in ethnographic fieldwork?

A) study of complete, functioning societies
B) face-to-face interviews
C) use of personal first-hand information
D) a holistic approach
E) use of random sampling

Answer 1

use of random sampling

Question 2

Anthropological fieldwork in recent decades has:

A) produced mostly general ethnographies.
B) been more focused on political and social problems.
C) been more problem-oriented than in earlier times.
D) been more comparative, often involving more than one fieldsite.
E) occurred mainly within the United States.

Answer 2

been more problem-oriented than in earlier times.

Question 3

Learning another language is:

A) seldom part of the anthropologist's preparation for fieldwork.
B) always accomplished before the anthropologist enters the field site.
C) necessary only when an interpreter cannot be found.
D) an important part of the tradition of anthropological fieldwork.
E) required in fieldwork, whether or not the anthropologist travels to another country.

Answer 3

an important part of the tradition of anthropological fieldwork.

Question 4

Collecting,analyzing,and interpreting data are all part of

A) selecting a research problem.
B) formulating a research design.
C) the preliminary preparation for anthropological fieldwork.
D) conducting field research.
E) using a multidisciplinary approach.

Question 5

Why did the applied anthropologist in the Jamaica Agroforestry Project (JAP)propose that nitrogen-fixing trees be planted?

A) These trees would create greater amounts of oxygen and clean air.
B) Nitrogen-fixing trees grow at a slower rate and can be harvested much more quickly.
C) Trees that use nitrogen create a much stronger wood that can be used commercially.
D) Nitrogen-fixing trees stabilize an area against erosion and can be used as feed for livestock.
E) These were the only kinds of trees that Jamaica had available at low cost.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes participatory action research?

A) It always involves an anthropologist gathering data firsthand.
B) It involves the anthropologist living with and observing the people studied.
C) It is a type of research in which the anthropologist and community work together to find solutions.
D) It is a kind of advocacy research in which the anthropologist represents the people studied in order to better their lives.
E) It is research that is headed by indigenous peoples and not the anthropologist as an outsider.

Question 7

Which statement about data collection used in anthropology is correct?

A) Participant-observation always is appropriate for cross-cultural research.
B) Methods that work in one culture might not be appropriate for a neighboring culture.
C) Photography is appropriate only in public settings.
D) Structured interviews should always be used early in the fieldwork.
E) A variety of methods ensures that the research data will not contain bias.

Question 8

Research grants for ethnographic fieldwork are awarded:

A) on a highly competitive basis.
B) to all deserving students of anthropology.
C) to all students in graduate programs of anthropology.
D) but few anthropologists actually do research overseas today.
E) to those who do work in biomedical research.

Question 9

Data gathered from personal interviews,observations,and oral histories is:

A) socio-cultural.
B) historical.
C) methodological.
D) quantitative.
E) qualitative.

Question 10

Which fieldwork techniques are best for collecting data?

A) survey and random sampling
B) participant observation and use of questionnaires
C) photography, participant observation, and random sampling
D) interviews and participant observation
E) taking census data and living with the people in their native villages

Question 11

The research problem selected for the Jamaica Agroforestry Project (JAP)included:

A) increasing the amount of trees planted and harvested and also developing markets for commerce.
B) increasing grazing foods available for livestock and decreasing soil erosion.
C) training local dockworkers to be commercial farmers.
D) working with local populations to train forest managers and increase conservation awareness.
E) introducing trees from other countries so that Jamaica could produce wood for export.

Question 12

The data-gathering technique used most often by anthropologists is:

A) structured interviews.
B) questionnaires.
C) participant observation.
D) document analysis.
E) intensive semi-structured interviews.

Question 13

Permission or clearance from a host government must be obtained for fieldwork:

A) although anthropologists are legally allowed to work in any part of the world.
B) although few countries pay much attention to the research interests of anthropologists.
C) because most countries want to make sure the research will not be embarrassing or politically sensitive.
D) because host governments work to create diplomatic ties with the United States.
E) so that the anthropologist's safety can be monitored at all times by the host government and also the anthropologist's embassy.

Question 14

Which of the following is the most important advantage of participant observation?

A) It does not lead to easily comparable or reproducible data.
B) It is practical only among small group sizes.
C) It has an obtrusive effect on the subject matter.
D) Recording information can be challenging.
E) It generally enhances rapport.

Question 15

Which of the following is not part of the advice that Ferraro gives for conducting participant-observation fieldwork?

A) proceed slowly
B) secure permission from the top down in the political hierarchy
C) never eat the local food unless you've seen it prepared
D) be consistent in how you explain who you are
E) communicate to the local people that you are there to be a student

Question 16

For the Jamaica Agroforestry Project (JAP),Susan Andreatta looked for patterns in the data.Why is this a significant approach?

A) Patterns signify the more resistant areas of cultural behavior.
B) Patterns suggest general trends and behaviors that affect the group as a whole.
C) Patterns are significant because they must be modified in order for any change to occur.
D) Through patterns the anthropologist can apply quantitative field research methods that provide accurate data.
E) This was the only time that an anthropologist had used pattern data in research.

Question 17

Anthropologists rely on fieldwork to:

A) describe and explain diverse cultures.
B) study how people think rather than how they behave. .
C) avoiding having to test hypotheses.
D) generate laws of universal behavior.
E) document the growth of indigenous communities.

Question 18

What is the primary reason that a fieldworker should slow down and not proceed so quickly in the work?

A) At the beginning most fieldworkers do not know enough to ask productive questions. They must first learn about the community.
B) Fieldworkers should not work quickly because this is usually interpreted as being impatient and rude.
C) Small, local villagers are often very busy with their own lives and cannot work around the anthropologist's schedule.
D) Work that is completed quickly does not take into account the changes that occur over a long period of fieldwork.
E) Anthropologists must remain in the field for at least one year and should not hurry to finish the work sooner.

Question 19

Ethnographic fieldwork can best be described as:

A) mechanistic.
B) experiential.
C) deterministic.
D) evolutionary.
E) analytical.

Question 20

Deciding who might be most likely to participate in an applied project is part of which stage of fieldwork?

A) analyzing the data
B) collecting the data
C) formulating a research design
D) selecting a research problem
E) interpreting the data

Question 21

A disadvantage of participant-observation is that:

A) only a small sample can be studied.
B) nonverbal behavior cannot be observed.
C) rapport is enhanced, but this creates bias in the work.
D) actual behavior cannot be distinguished from expected behavior.
E) it takes too long to complete the research well.

Question 22

Which of the following is not a common applied field method?

A) urban action assessment
B) focus groups
C) rapid ethnographic assessment
D) participatory action research
E) surveys

Question 23

The validity of anthropological data can be routinely checked by:

A) never asking more than one person the same question.
B) asking a single individual the same question repeatedly over a period of time.
C) using photographs to document ethnographic reality and reveal inconsistencies in interviews.
D) asking another anthropologist to do a re-study of the field site.
E) comparing data collected with what has previously been published about the area or topic.

Question 24

When conducting ethnographic interviews,you should:

A) use simple, unambiguous questions and leave the controversial questions for the end of the interview.
B) obtain informed consent after the interview is completed.
C) make the interview a long period so that the interviewee has time to relax.
D) let the interviewee see the tape recorder and feel important about having the session taped.
E) try to schedule several interviews so that the interviewee can discuss details and seek clarification from neighbors and friends.

Question 25

How people in different cultures use space is known as:

A) archival analysis.
B) statistical analysis.
C) proxemic analysis.
D) document analysis.
E) mapping.

Question 26

The collection of basic demographic data is considered part of which ethnographic field method?

A) ethnographic mapping
B) census taking
C) photography
D) structured interviews
E) document analysis

Question 27

All of the following are common reasons that the AIDS epidemic is particularly difficult to control except:

A) different types of marriage patterns are practiced worldwide, including re-marrying an infected widow to surviving brother.
B) there is a high proportion of high risk groups within a population.
C) the immune system is well-studied and cannot be controlled for disease.
D) a chemical cure is not likely to be found soon because viruses are poorly understood.
E) the biological factors involved are extremely complex.

Question 28

An anthropologist decides on which techniques to use based primarily upon:

A) the nature of the problem being studied and receptivity of the people.
B) a realistic appraisal of what he or she can achieve in a short period.
C) the kinds of information that will be most useful to the host government.
D) the topographical sequence in the community.
E) what the community has been exposed to in the past.

Question 29

Under which of the applied field techniques does the community itself contact the research professional for help in creating change?

A) focus groups
B) participatory action research
C) participatory rural appraisal
D) unstructured interviews
E) rapid ethnographic assessment

Question 30

The ethnographic interview is different from the sociological or psychological interview because the:

A) interviewer and the subject almost always speak different first languages.
B) ethnographic interview is much narrower in scope.
C) ethnographic interview always focuses on the experiences of a single individual.
D) ethnographic interview is typically used alone without other sources of data.
E) ethnographic interview involves large groups of people.

Question 31

Recently,UNESCO has recognized that ___________ is at the heart of all development worldwide and is a resource that needs protection.

A) coal
B) petroleum
C) sunlight
D) land
E) water

Question 32

Participant-observation has the advantage of:

A) providing a large sample size.
B) ease of recording of data.
C) being an unobtrusive data gathering technique.
D) enabling fieldworkers to distinguish actual from expected behavior.
E) creating standardized, scientific data.

Question 33

Anthropologists collect information on all the relatives (kin)of the informant by:

A) mapping.
B) the genealogical method.
C) proxemic analysis.
D) document analysis.
E) census taking.

Question 34

Why is culture shock such a significant aspect of handling fieldwork situations?

A) It is an attribute of those fieldworkers who have less experience and is a key component in teaching ethnographic field methods.
B) Culture shock most acutely affects the community studied and must be handled wisely in order to preserve the field situation for future researchers.
C) Culture shock is exceedingly common and occurs to almost every anthropologist, regardless of years of experience.
D) Fieldwork cannot be conducted when an anthropologist is suffering from culture shock.
E) It is a sign that the anthropologist should leave the community immediately.

Question 35

Michelle Renaud,an applied anthropologist working with prostitutes in Senegal,used traditional data-gathering techniques in ethnographic research to better understand the high incidence of AIDS.What were her most significant conclusions?

A) Senegalese government needs to regulate prostitution so that the women are licensed and given regular health check-ups.
B) AIDS education and condom use should extend beyond the prostitutes and their clients to the prostitute's boyfriends and wider adult community.
C) Prostitutes need to use condoms with their clients and practice safe sex.
D) Prostitution needs to be closed down and put out of business so that AIDS can be better controlled in that area.
E) Because AIDS is much less evident in this area of Senegal than in neighboring communities, the country can learn much from studying the ways that the disease is managed in Kaolack.

Question 36

All of the following are potential benefits of using photography in fieldwork except:

A) members of the community can use photography to document an emic point of view.
B) pictures can be used as a way of specifying and encouraging topics in the interview.
C) photographs are useful as ways to document cultural artifacts.
D) pictures can be used to provide collectable data on land-use patterns.
E) people of all cultures like to have their pictures taken.

Question 37

Unstructured interviews:

A) seldom provide useful or accurate data because they interviewer does not provide questions.
B) should only be used at the end of one's fieldwork.
C) contain open-ended questions and are paced by the interviewees and not the interviewer.
D) are all very short in duration because they never cover major topics.
E) always involve at least three individuals.

Question 38

What is the primary advantage of document analysis as an ethnographic field method?

A) Because it is a documented record, it can be tested and proved.
B) It almost always involves multiple perspectives ad accounts of a problem.
C) Official documents are easy to obtain and can be used as ways to prompt interviewees to share information.
D) It does not cost much to do this kind of work.
E) It is non-intrusive and provides large quantities of information.

Question 39

Culture shock includes the following symptom(s):

A) a sense of confidence about the proper way to behave.
B) a loss of self-esteem.
C) a sense of being accepted by members of the other culture.
D) a feeling of having total control over the situation.
E) a feeling that the community's culture is far superior to the anthropologist's own culture.

Question 40

Biculturalism means:

A) a loss of understanding of one's own culture.
B) a capacity to function effectively in two or more cultures.
C) an inability to shift gears between one's own and another culture.
D) extreme homesickness.
E) a willingness to work as a culture broker between two or more cultures.

Question 41

By using the steps outlined in the research process,an anthropologist will have a structured and controlled research project and design.

Question 42

The ethnographic approach takes a holistic perspective of societies.

Question 43

Participant observation has no real disadvantages for an anthropologist.

Question 44

George Peter Murdock and his colleagues at Yale developed the coded data retrieval system called:

A) Human Relations Area Files.
B) Human Relations Administration Focus.
C) Ethnographic Retrieval System.
D) International Cultural Code Set of Relations.
E) International Cultural Code of Conduct.

Question 45

Funding agencies routinely require that the anthropologist produce a research proposal.

Question 46

Anthropologists receiving support from their sponsors must:

A) reflect upon the purposes of the sponsoring organizations and the potential uses to which the findings will be put.
B) never reveal their sources of information to their sponsors.
C) never accept more money than to meet their research expenses.
D) accept the fact that their sponsors have the right to make all ethical decisions.
E) make sure that the sponsoring organizations will be able to use the data they collect.

Question 47

Project Camelot was conducted:

A) with funding from United States anthropologists.
B) in the United States in the 1960s.
C) with funding from the U.S. Army to study the causes of civil violence in countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe.
D) as a model for correct ethical behavior on the part of United States anthropologists.
E) as a model for cultural conduct that allows increasingly tolerant means for global interaction.

Question 48

When teaching,anthropologists should:

A) be fair, candid, and nonexploitive in their dealing with students.
B) be sure to minimize the importance of ethics in anthropological research.
C) be careful to keep students away from their research and writing for publication.
D) involve students in every part of the anthropologist's fieldwork at that time.
E) recruit students to work as apprentices on fieldwork projects so that they better learn about ethics.

Question 49

Fieldworkers should always obtain research clearance from their own countries of origin.

Question 50

What is the major benefit that results from narrative,or reflexive,ethnography?

A) It provides a more objective account of fieldwork.
B) It is subjective and leads to much more interesting publications on the ethnographic experience.
C) Narrative ethnography provides employment and recognition for community members.
D) Through narrative ethnography we better understand the process of doing fieldwork and the effect that the researcher and subjects have on each other.
E) Narrative ethnography is recognized today as the only way to produce comparative data sets that allow for a scientific analysis of culture.

Question 51

Several networking websites,such as Facebook and MySpace,have captured the attention of social scientists because they provide easy access to large amounts of data on:

A) social relationships and personal identity.
B) religious preferences and genealogy.
C) personal beliefs and cultural dogma.
D) enculturation techniques.
E) communication and linguistic patterns of young people.

Question 52

"Narrative ethnography" is concerned with:

A) traditional notions of scientific objectivity.
B) co-producing ethnographic knowledge by focusing on the interaction between anthropologists and their informants.
C) analyzing informant's information in light of the political structure.
D) avoiding the influence of the personality of the anthropologist.
E) producing engaging novels and fiction accounts of fieldwork in order to better teach ethnographic field methods.

Question 53

For anthropologists,fieldwork is experiential.

Question 54

Anthropologists have a responsibility to

A) their subjects.
B) their discipline.
C) their colleagues.
D) their own and host governments.
E) all of these choices.

Question 55

After the difficult steps of collecting data,the interpretation of anthropological findings is easy.

Question 56

Some anthropologists are opposed to narrative ethnography because:

A) it is not a subjective, scientific account of fieldwork.
B) it does not produce large quantities of data.
C) it does not utilize the same types of methods used in traditional ethnography.
D) this type of fieldwork does not involve community members.
E) they are not able to document the fieldwork process as accurately as through other approaches.

Question 57

Quantitative data is much more reliable than qualitative data.

Question 58

The Jamaica Agroforestry Project encouraged farmers to plant nitrogen-fixing trees instead of food products.

Question 59

Anthropologists should not select the research problem for study until after they arrive in the field.

Question 60

Anthropologists working in foreign countries:

A) seldom are able to be as honest with their host government as they could be with their own government.
B) often compromise their professional standards in order to get a research clearance.
C) should be honest with both their own and the host governments.
D) may engage in clandestine research for their own or their host government.
E) should always check with the U.S. embassy before submitting data to the sponsoring government.

Question 61

Most anthropologists use photography as part of their data-gathering techniques.

Question 62

What are the methodological advantages of photography?

Question 63

What are some of the symptoms of culture shock?

Question 64

As a general rule,structured interviews should be used before unstructured interviews.

Question 65

List four techniques for the collection of cultural data.

Question 66

The Human Relations Area Files (HRAF)are the world's largest anthropological data retrieval system.

Question 67

What must an anthropologist do to prepare for fieldwork?

Question 68

Ethical dilemmas are common in fieldwork.

Question 69

Genealogical mapping is very important in small-scale societies.

Question 70

If survey questions are standardized and close-ended,they can produce data that is statistically comparable.

Question 71

What are some general guidelines applicable to most participant-observation fieldwork?

Question 72

What is the difference between unstructured and structured interviews?

Question 73

Since "a picture is worth a thousand words," ethnographers always need to document certain features of a culture by taking photographs.

Question 74

Describe and discuss the primary goals of the Jamaica Agroforestry Project (JAP).

Question 75

Culture shock is a common occurrence with anthropologists.

Question 76

What are some new technologies useful for gathering anthropological data?

Question 77

All anthropologists appreciate the new methods being introduced with narrative ethnography.

Question 78

What are the five stages of fieldwork?

Question 79

The ethnographic interview is usually quite narrow in scope and focus.

Question 80

How do qualitative and quantitative methods differ?