Question 1

Discuss the pros and cons of anthropologists using pseudonyms and fake community names when publishing their research.

Accepted Answer

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Question 2

Why are archaeologists,in particular,ethically obligated to publish the results of their research?

Accepted Answer

Archaeologists are obligated to publish the results of their research because the act of excavating a site destroys it for future archaeologists. Once a site has been excavated, it cannot be re-excavated, so publishing the results is a way to share the information with other scholars and the public, ensuring that the knowledge gained from the excavation is not lost forever. This is a unique ethical concern specific to archaeology that does not exist in other fields of anthropology or research on living populations.

Question 3

How does archaeology differ from other approaches to cultural anthropology?

Accepted Answer

Archaeology is unique in its ability to study and analyze human behavior and culture over long stretches of time, providing insight into evolutionary trends that cannot be directly observed through other approaches in cultural anthropology.

Answer: B
 While other approaches in cultural anthropology focus primarily on studying living peoples and their cultures, archaeology also draws on historical records and material remains to develop a more complete understanding of cultures and human behavior over time.

Answer: C
 Archaeology often involves the study of animal remains and artifacts, providing important context for understanding the evolutionary trends and cultural practices of both humans and other animals.

Answer: D
 While archaeology can contribute to broader understandings of global trends in culture and human behavior, it is not the only approach that does so. Other approaches, such as ethnography and comparative studies, also contribute to our understanding of global cultural trends.

Question 4

What are anthropological theoretical orientations? Explain this term using your newly developed understanding of the scientific definitions of theories,hypotheses,and laws.Give specific examples to support your essay.

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Question 5

What influence did Darwin's theory of evolution have on 19th-century anthropology?

Accepted Answer

Darwin's theory of evolution influenced early anthropologists to believe that cultures develop in a uniform manner, similar to how species develop. This idea is known as cultural evolution and dominated 19th-century anthropology. Cultural evolutionists believed that all societies followed the same stages of development, and Western societies were considered the most advanced. This perspective was later criticized and replaced by cultural relativism.

Question 6

What method should be used to test a theory concerning only one society?

Accepted Answer

When testing a theory concerning only one society, it is best to use within-culture comparison. This involves comparing different groups or sub-cultures within the same society to see if there are any variations that support or challenge the theory. This method allows for a more detailed and nuanced understanding of the society being studied. Regional controlled comparison and cross-cultural research both involve comparing multiple societies, and historical research focuses on studying past events rather than examining current societies.

Question 7

In your opinion,do the results of archaeological research justify the inevitable destruction of archaeological sites through excavation? Support your answer.

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Question 8

Choose either ecological anthropology,interpretive anthropology,or Boasian anthropology.Describe what sorts of questions an anthropologist following this theoretical perspective would be interested in if they were to study the social life of American university students.

Accepted Answer

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Question 9

How does the sampling universe vary based on the types of research in anthropology? Explain what a typical sampling universe would look like for within-culture comparisons,cross-cultural research,and historical research.

Accepted Answer

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Question 10

While anthropologists often use pseudonyms to protect their study populations,what problem might arise from this practice?

Accepted Answer

Using pseudonyms can make it difficult for an anthropologist or other researchers to conduct follow-up research with the same community or population. If the pseudonym is the only identifying information given for the study population, it may be impossible to locate them again for future research. This can limit the depth and scope of the initial study, and may also make it difficult to test the generalizability of the findings.

Quiz 2: Research Methods in Anthropology