Chapter4

Chapter 4Explanation and Evidence : 

Chapter 4Explanation and Evidence Explanations Why Theories Cannot Be Proved Generating Theories Evidence: Testing Explanations Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology

Explanation and Evidence : 

Explanation and Evidence An explanation is an answer to a why question. Why does a particular society have a long postpartum sex taboo? Want to abstain from sex after birth of a child Because it is their tradition (a tautology) We need a more satisfactory answer!

Associations or Relationships : 

Associations or Relationships Variables: a thing or quantity that varies. Example: water state vs. temperature Repeated observations with similar results needed. Laws: associations or relationships that are accepted by almost all scientists Answer: societies with long postpartum sex taboos have low-protein diets. Statistical association: relationship unlikely due to chance

Theories : 

Theories Why do those laws or associations exist? Why do societies with low-protein diets have a long postpartum sex taboo? Theories explain laws and statistical associations. The long postpartum sex taboo may be adaptive because longer nursing helps prevent protein-deficiency.

Why Theories Cannot Be Proved : 

Why Theories Cannot Be Proved Theories can never be proved with absolute certainty. Theoretical construct: something that cannot be observed or verified directly . The method of falsification, which shows that a theory seems to be wrong, is the main way that theories are judged.

Hypotheses : 

Hypotheses Predictions, which may be derived from theories, about how variables are related. If the predictions associated with a theory turn out not to be true, there may be a problem with the theory.

Generating Theories : 

Generating Theories Two methods have helped anthropologists produce explanations of cultural phenomena: Single-case analysis: Explaining a particular custom in a particular culture Comparative study: Compare different cultures with the same custom

Evidence: Testing Explanations : 

Evidence: Testing Explanations Operational Definition: description of the procedure used to measure the variable. Sampling Universe: list of cases to be sampled from. Statistical Tests of Significance: Probability or p-value is the likelihood that the result could have occurred by chance (p<0.05)

Evidence: Testing Explanations : 

Evidence: Testing Explanations Operationalization In order to ensure research is done accurately, a researcher typically provides an operational definition of each concept/variable. How will the variable be measured?

Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology : 

Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology Ethnography Within-Culture Comparisons Regional Controlled Comparisons Cross-Cultural Research Historical Research

Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology : 

Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology Ethnography After doing fieldwork, an anthropologist may prepare an ethnography, or a description and analysis of a single society. Participant-observation Ethics in Fieldwork

Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology : 

Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology Within-Culture Comparisons Testing a theory within one society comparing individuals, families, households, communities, or districts, for example. (spatial)

Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology : 

Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology Regional Controlled Comparisons An ethnographic comparison between societies in the same or similar region. (spatial)

Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology : 

Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology Cross-Cultural Research Worldwide comparisons between societies having and those lacking a particular characteristic. (spatial) This method is beneficial in that the conclusion drawn is probably applicable to most societies.

Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology : 

Types of Research in Cultural Anthropology Ethnohistory consists of studies based on descriptive materials about a single society at more than one point in time. (temporal)