This document discusses various methods and techniques used in cultural anthropology fieldwork and ethnography, including participant observation, interviews, kinship charting, life histories, and problem-oriented research. It notes that ethnography employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, and can involve both long-term longitudinal studies as well as team and collaborative research projects. Contemporary ethnography also examines the scales of culture and place and how local practices are affected by global influences.

1. Method & Theory in Cultural Anthropology Intro to Cultural Anthropology Prof. J. Fortier

2. Ethnography Writing after having done fieldwork Distinctive to cultural anthropology Part of early Anthro traditions Lizette Mu ñoz & Prof. Fortier talking with Quechua farmer

3. Ethnographic Techniques: Participant Observation Participate in activities Observe behaviors Learning about Wild Yams from Banraji community in India

4. Conversation & Interviewing Structured questionnaire Non-random samples Check validity Quantitative & qualitative questions Sam Brown, Kumeyaay Elder During interview about Cuyamaca Area memories & places

5. Kinship or Genealogical Interviews Kinship charting Basic to most ethnographic studies Kin links reflect social & political structures of many societies

6. Key Cultural Consultants Often elders Wise, knowledgeable Loquacious Key informants experienced Raute elder from Nepal, a key cultural consultant

7. Life Histories Good way to get longer view of cultural changes Record distinctive people’s biographies Personal standpoints are recorded Life histories of two elders, focusing on how their senses have contributed to being Yolmo

8. Local knowledge & beliefs Ethnographies record emic views Local, insider’s, native, experiential Other studies can record etic views Scientific, comparative, non-experiential Shamanic knowledge involves altered states of consciousness

9. Problem-oriented ethnography What is the research question? What problem or issue is to be studied? Are there rapid assessment techniques? Consulting archives? Whose problems are solved? Ethnical issues? Video ethnography enhances design studio client’s needs

10. Longitudinal Research Long-term study of a community Based on repeated visits over many years Repeated collection of censuses, quantitative data Allows for different research questions Chronicles the importance of knowledge in the ability of people to reproduce themselves and their practices over time

11. Team Research in Ethnography Animal Husbandry & butchery of animals Marriage, sex, and gender in Mayan families Life History of a Pisté woman Religion and local protestant churches TESL classroom experiences Student success in Mayan families Production of local Maya art History of families working at the archaeological zone of Chichén Itza Ideas about Race among Youth www.osea-cite.org (The Open School of Ethnography & Anthropology)

12. Contemporary Ethnographies Attention to scales of culture and place Older ethnographies focus on distinct ethnic groups, villages, or cultures Contemporary ethnog’s select distinct aspects of these Tourism & folk dance in M érida, Yucatan, Mexico; www.osea-site.org

13. Ethnography & Survey Research Studies sample pop’n Little personal contact Uses small # of variables Used in writing-based, literate societies Codes answers for statistical analysis Holistic: Studies whole communities First-hand, direct research experience Often carried out in small-scale societies Emph. On description, qualitative research

14. Ethnography: Mix of Methods Quantitative & qualitative Long-term w/ short-term follow-ups Collaborative research “ Bifocal” - viewing local and global effects on people The Karki family, key cultural consultants In Nepal