Topic 6

Cultural Research in
Social Anthropology
 Reading test pt1: Topic 6.1 Cultural Research in Social
Anthropology
1. Definition of Ethnography:
2. Definition of Fieldwork:
3. Make a small drawing that represents the fieldwork.
4. Where did the anthropologists start to practice the
fieldwork?
5. Who is considered the father of the Ethnography and why?
6. On the internet, investigate an example of ethnographic
fieldwork and say why it is?
 Ethnography
•The scientific description of the customs
of individual peoples and cultures.
• It studies societies with greater cultural
uniformity and less social differentiation
than those prevailing in modern, large
and industrialized nations (Kottak, 2011).
 Fieldwork
•According to Harris (2004), fieldwork is a
research method based on direct
personal observation that, for extended
periods of time, may be of a social group
of animal population, or of recognition
of specific geographic areas.
 Reading Test pt. 2
After watching the videos, answer the questions:
1. According to the video, which is the main topic of the research?
2. Can we consider the video an example of an ethnographic
research? Why?
3. How do you think the researcher had to apply the fieldwork?
What does she/he had to do?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjFEDS_riM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUbx-AcDgXow7LdI6rhTJdU
 Maori Haka: New Zeland
The haka is a type of ancient Māori war dance traditionally used on
the battlefield, as well as when groups came together in peace.
Haka are a fierce display of a tribe's pride, strength and unity.
Actions include violent foot-stamping, tongue protrusions and
rhythmic body slapping to accompany a loud chant.
 Topic 6.2
The Monograph as
Product
 Definition and objective
•A monograph is a document whose
purpose is to gather as much information
as possible about the specific topic that
was chosen.
•It can be about a specific village, a
particular activity you want to study or the
relation between one or more topics.
 Definition and objective
•Seeks to include all aspects of the life of the
group or activity studied.
•Its sources can be stories, legends, personal
or indirect observation.
•The period of time of the monograph can be
diachronic (from previous times until today)
or synchronic (from the present time).