Chapter 3, Applied Anthropology

Chapter Outline

Applied Versus Pure Anthropology Applied Anthropology in the

Twentieth Century Special Features of Anthropology Examples of Applied Anthropology The Greater Use of Anthropological

Knowledge

Pure and Applied Anthropology

Pure anthropology - aimed at refining the discipline’s theory, methods, and data.

Applied anthropology - focused on using anthropological insights toward the solution of practical social problems.

Special Features of Anthropology

Participant-Observation The Holistic Perspective Regional Expertise The Emic View Cultural Relativism Topical Expertise

Specialized Rolesof Applied Anthropologists

Policy researcher: provide cultural data to policymakers so they can make informed policy decisions.

Evaluator: use research skills to determine how well a program has succeeded.

Impact assessor: measuring the effect of a particular project, program, or policy on local peoples.

Specialized Rolesof Applied Anthropologists

Planner: participate in the design of various programs and policies.

Research analyst: interprets research findings so policymakers, planners, and administrators can make culturally sensitive decisions.

Needs assessor: conduct research to determine ahead of time the need for a proposed program or project.

Specialized Rolesof Applied Anthropologists

Trainer: imparts cultural knowledge about certain populations to professional groups working in cross-cultural situations.

Advocate: becoming an active supporter of a particular group of people.

Administrator/manager: assumes direct administrative responsibility for a particular project.

Specialized Rolesof Applied Anthropologists

Expert witness: presents culturally relevant research findings as part of judicial proceedings through legal briefs, depositions, or direct testimony.

Cultural broker: serves as a liaison between program planner and administrators on one hand and local ethnic communities on the other.

Examples of Applied Anthropology

Penny Van Esterik’s advocacy involvement in the Nestlé baby formula controversy.

Elizabeth Grobsmith’s work with Native American prison inmates.

Examples of Applied Anthropology

Richard Dembo’s ethnographic research on teenage cocaine dealing in Florida.

Warren Hern’s work with the Shipibo of the Peruvian Amazon, which had important policy implications for programs of population control.