Anthropology as a Discipline – Branches and Methodologies, Part 2
Question 1: Explain why anthropology is rooted both in the sciences and the humanities
Answer 1: Strictly speaking, anthropology is a science because it uses systematic principles, experimentation, observation, and logic in context to the material and physical world. It utilizes many of the natural sciences as well as the social sciences. The natural science connections include geology, zoology, chemistry and others. There are many similarities and overlaps between anthropology and the social sciences of sociology and psychology. Since anthropology is holistic, it is also deeply connected to fields in the humanities such as language studies, literature, philosophy, folklore, and the arts.
There are lots of good resources about Anthropology that you can find available.
Question 2: Discuss applied anthropology and archeology.
Answer 2: Applied anthropology is the use of anthropological information, theories and techniques to address contemporary problems. Applied anthropologists are often employed in medical fields like public health or family planning, forensics, business or economic growth, or cultural resource management. Cultural resource management (CRM) is a common mode of applied or public archeology. CRM involves making decisions about preservation and selective destruction of portions of sites. Cultural resource managers are often hired by governmental agencies and may work in conjunction with applied cultural anthropologists. Applied archeologists may also work in the field of historic preservation or develop educational programs for the public.
Question 3: Discuss the difference between a hypothesis, a theory, and an association
Answer 3: A hypothesis is a tentative but as yet unconfirmed explanation for a relationship. It suggests a possible but unproven reason for an association, which is an observed connection between two or more variables. The hypothesis provides a tentative explanation of the impact of changes in a predictor or independent variable on another dependent variable (also called the explicandum). The hypothesis must be tested using scientific methods before a theory can be developed to explain the nature of the associations. These scientific methods include random case selection, reliable measurements, and use of proper statistical techniques for analysis. A theory should be verifiable through later research.
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