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Chapter-12: Research Design
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Q1. What is research?
Ans. Research implies a search andre-search or a re-examination into the
existing situations of humans. It can beconducted by anyone who is interested toexplore
truth. However, the manner ofinvestigation may be different in each. Itvaries according
to the subject of study, skill of the investigator, aims and objectives ofinvestigation and
the methodology that they use.
Most of the anthropologists conduct their research by doing fieldwork, goingto the field,
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which is wherever people and the cultures are, to study abouttheir culture or any
problem through direct observation. Research can be interesting as it offers you a
measure of control and autonomyover what you learn. It gives you an opportunity to
confirm, clarify, pursueor even discover new aspects of a subject or topic you are
interested in.Research can be conducted by anyone who is interested in
exploringsomething.
Ananthropologist who did the research should have the skill and ability to choose
appropriate and specifictools and techniques. It is also important to follow a set of
procedural rules, while conductingresearch. These structural procedures and rules are
known as methodology. It is themethodology that differentiates a scientific research
from a non-scientific investigation.
Scientific Research in Anthropology: There are disciplines like Chemistry and
Physics which can experiment with differentchemical and physical elements. They can
dissolve their objects of study, change their formfrom one state into another, measure
them, twist them or bend them. However, there islittle chance for such drastic
transformation in subjects like biology or social science asthey deal with living matters.
In social science, the subjects of research are human beings.So, making alteration in
such subjects is not at all possible for a social scientist.
Anthropology is a bio-social science which studieshumans in totality.With this limited
purpose,Anthropology could not be said to be experimental or laboratory-based science
but mainlyan observational and a field-based science, which is the heart and soul of
Anthropology.Anthropological research is different from other social science researches.
Forexample, sociologists, by and large, work in complex societies. They often conduct
surveys,use structured interviews, and administer questionnaires. Hence, sociology
generally comesunder the realm of survey research. Psychologists conduct experiments
with clients andhence, Psychology is generally included under the realm of clinical
research. On the otherhand, anthropologists being field scientists, learn from their
informants. Traditionally, theyare known for their work among smallscale societies, and
have devised specific methodsand techniques for undertaking holistic research.

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