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Chapter-11: Methods, Tools and Techniques

Q1. Plan and design suitable research methods for data collection in
Social/Cultural Anthropology.
Ans. A method is a way of conducting and implementing research, while methodology
is the science and philosophy behind all research (Adams John et.al 2007). In a field-
based research a researcher first needs to decide on the topic and based on the topic
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select appropriate methods, tools and techniques. Broadly the following are the main
methods, tools and techniques for data collection in socio-cultural anthropology. They
are:
Observation as a Method: In the contemporary western world, the people are under
constant observationwherever they go, as they come under the close circute television.
The non-western worldis also fast catching up with it. Observing and being observed are
two important features of modern society. It is said that ours is becoming an
observation society (Silverman; 25,2012). In social research, one of the most important
and extensively used methods is observation. All observations are not scientific. An
observation becomes scientific only if it is planned and executed systematically. It may
take place in real life setting or in a laboratory. An anthropologist as an ethnographer
observes individual and collective behaviour in real life settings. Hence, Herskovits, the
American Anthropologist terms the field as the 'ethnographer’s laboratory'.
Several types of field observation have been used in anthropological research. A
researcher can observe the day-to-day life of the group under study either by
participating or without participating in it. Observation is divided mainly into two types:
Uncontrolled observation and Controlled observation.
1. Uncontrolled Observation: Uncontrolled observation is a form of observation
which is made in the natural environment without being influenced by outside
control or external factors. Most of the knowledge about the social phenomena is
generally derived through uncontrolled observation. There are two types of
uncontrolled observations, participant observation and non-participant
observation.
a) Participant Observation: When the researcher actively participates in
the activities of the group under investigation, it is known as participant
observation. In the extreme level of participant observation, the
researcher might conceal one’s identity. It can be called total participant
observation. Such kind of observation is resorted to when the researcher
intends to keep the natural setting intact, without any kind of disturbance.

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