Exploring Society: Cultural Anthropology, Research, and Ethical Issues

This essay delves into the realm of cultural anthropology, examining the significance of direct contact as a valuable method for gathering information about a society through participant observation. It highlights the ethical considerations involved in conducting research with religious groups, emphasizing the importance of informed consent and sensitivity towards cultural practices. The essay also addresses the potential impact of an observer's presence on the group being studied, discussing the 'observer's effect' and its implications for data accuracy. It further presents arguments for the benefits of such observations in uncovering deep truths about a society, offering a comprehensive overview of key aspects of cultural anthropological research. Desklib provides a platform for students to access this essay and other study resources.

Running head: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY- EXPLORING THE SOCIETY
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY- EXPLORING THE SOCIETY
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CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY- EXPLORING THE SOCIETY
Why would direct contact be such a useful vehicle for gaining information about a society?
Direct contact with a society for collecting information is referred to as participant
observation that is a type of research methodology in social sciences. Participant observation
means that the researcher is observing the culture of any society by participating in the situation
(Garcia-Alexander, Woo & Carlson, 2017). When a researcher indulges into the very flux of a
society by participating in the everyday chores like a member of that culture, a horizon of
knowledge about that society is opened. Direct contact heps the researcher build a rapport with
the subjects and learn about the society more clearly.
What ethics might be involved in conducting research with religious groups and/or of
religious practices?
It is important for the researcher to possess deep knowledge about the ethics that come
with the practice of collecting data for ethnography. The principle ethics that the researcher has
to be aware of is that he or she must inform the participants about their study prior to conducting
the research. While conducting research on religious practices or groups, it is important for the
researcher to be sensitive about the particular religion. The researcher must also be careful while
documenting the various rituals of a particular religion because it might lead to the participants’
sentiments being hurt.
Could the presence of an observer in the group affect the observations being made?
The answer to this question cannot be stated in simple yes or no because it depends on
the situation and circumstances. A group might behave differently in the presence of an observer
in order to hide certain secrets they do not wish to disclose. This might affect the accuracy of the

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CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY- EXPLORING THE SOCIETY
data. This phenomenon is popularly termed as the ‘observer’s effect’ (Monahan, 2018). On the
other hand, the presence of an observer might not make any difference to the observations
because the group is not bothered about his or her presence. Opponents of the ‘observer’s effect’
argue that whether biased or not, this type of observation brings out the deep truths about a
society that would not be possible through other research methods.

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CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY- EXPLORING THE SOCIETY
References:
Garcia-Alexander, G., Woo, H., & Carlson, M. J. (2017). Social Research Methods: Scientific
Inquiry and Reasoning Skills in Social Science. In Social Foundations of Behavior for the
Health Sciences (pp. 17-40). Springer, Cham.
Monahan, T. (2018). Benefits of ‘observer effects’: lessons from the field. Retrieved 11 April
2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles