ethnology
study of human cultures from a comparative perspective
synchronic
describing a culture at one period in time.
diachronic
describing changes in a culture at one period in time
ethnographic fieldwork
collection of information from living people about their way of life
ethnohistoric research
study of a people's culture using written accounts and other records.
interviewing
collecting cultural data by systematic questioning; may be structured (using questionnaires) or unstructured (open-ended).
recall ethnography
technique for reconstructing a cultural system at a slightly earlier period by interviewing older individuals who lived during that period.
participant observation
main technique used in conducting ethnographic fieldwork, involving living among a people and participating in their daily activities.
stereotyping
having preconceived mental images of a group that bias the way one perceives group members and interprets their behavior.
consultant (informant)
member of a society who provides information to a fieldworker, often through formal interviews or surveys
key consultant (key informant)
member of a society who is especially knowledgeable about some subject and who supplies information to a fieldworker
culture shock
feeling of uncertainty and anxiety an individual experiences when placed in a strange cultural setting.
ethnohistory
study of past cultures using written accounts and other documents
comparative methods
methods that test hypotheses by systematically comparing elements from many cultures
cross-cultural comparison
methodology for testing a hypothesis using a sample of societies drawn from around the world.
Naturalist Observation
making accurate descriptions of the physical and daily activities of a people in a society.
ethnology
study of human cultures from a comparative perspective
synchronic
describing a culture at one period in time.
diachronic
describing changes in a culture at one period in time
ethnographic fieldwork
collection of information from living people about their way of life
ethnohistoric research
study of a people's culture using written accounts and other records.
interviewing
collecting cultural data by systematic questioning; may be structured (using questionnaires) or unstructured (open-ended).
recall ethnography
technique for reconstructing a cultural system at a slightly earlier period by interviewing older individuals who lived during that period.
participant observation
main technique used in conducting ethnographic fieldwork, involving living among a people and participating in their daily activities.
stereotyping
having preconceived mental images of a group that bias the way one perceives group members and interprets their behavior.
consultant (informant)
member of a society who provides information to a fieldworker, often through formal interviews or surveys
key consultant (key informant)
member of a society who is especially knowledgeable about some subject and who supplies information to a fieldworker
culture shock
feeling of uncertainty and anxiety an individual experiences when placed in a strange cultural setting.
ethnohistory
study of past cultures using written accounts and other documents
comparative methods
methods that test hypotheses by systematically comparing elements from many cultures
cross-cultural comparison
methodology for testing a hypothesis using a sample of societies drawn from around the world.
Naturalist Observation
making accurate descriptions of the physical and daily activities of a people in a society.