Sociology vs. Cultural Anthropology Essay - 939 Words

The research methods in sociology and anthropology are similar yet follow a specific set of guidelines for each. Each field approaches research in a similar fashion but the methodology and intentions can differ. The differences reflect the distinct differences that are present in sociology and anthropology. The way that an anthropologist approaches a problem and attempts to solve it is different than a sociologist because of the discerning basis of their knowledge. Some of the research methods require a researcher to be up close and personal with subjects while in other methods the subject don’t even realize they are being observed. From these research methods, sociologists and anthropologists draw conclusions from their observations.†¦show more content†¦These are the hardest to replicate and have the least bit of control over almost everything. Social surveys are conducted by asking a number of respondents identical questions through a systematic questionnaire or interview (Tischler, 2007). Surveys allow the researcher to study things that are not directly observable, such as beliefs and attitudes. This allows for the generalized description of a population that would otherwise be too large to observe directly. The data that is collected can be compared and quantified amongst different classifications. One of the drawbacks is that the respondents may not be wholly truthful. There are different styles of surveys in sociology, such as telephone surveys and self- administered questionnaires. Both of these methods offer anonymity yet the response rates can be low. Philosophically, sociologists rely on experiments because they are directly observable, offer quick results and can be in a controlled environment, for the most part. For example, if a researcher was to research the effects of a crying infant on a plane between men and women, it would be feasible to test. The controlled lab would be the airplane; the subjects would be the men and wo men with the variable being the crying infant. Using the powers of observation, data could be collected at benchmarks such as after five minutes of crying, and ten minutes of crying and so forth. Questionnaires couldShow MoreRelatedEthnocentrism1047 Words   |  5 Pages(Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural Relativism) As a Sociologist, should we practice Cultural Ethnocentrism or Cultural Relativism? We must first understand the two distinct theories regarding perception of outside cultures: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism. 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