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The anthropological perspective refers to an anthropologist's effort to explain a cultural
environment from within, comprehending the motives, behaviors, and beliefs of people in their
own terms. This does not imply that anthropologists are attempting to entirely immerse
themselves in the society being studied. Instead, they acquire the background and culture to the
point that they can describe how individuals in a specific culture or setting view the world and
how various areas of their life intersect giving them in return an ‘insider perspective’. “The
methodology of long-term fieldwork is designed to allow the anthropologist to understand this
complexity by spending enough time among a people not only to observe what they do but also to
understand why they do it.”1This rolone’s significant because it allows the researcher to obtain a
more natural and unbiased opinion on one’s culture as they have experienced it themselves.
A researcher moves from observer to participant by switching over from the two. At one
point the researcher may be fully involved and engaging in cultural activities while at other
times, the researcher is simply observing events. Alternating between the two ways allows the
researcher to not only visualize the culture but also experience it and give them a better
understanding. “Participating in this way gave me a role that people could understand more
easily than “anthropologist.” More importantly, sharing my faith and contributing to Christian
life in these ways strengthened rapport, a relationship of conversational ease with individuals
and groups. For all of us, good rapport allowed us to talk more honestly and intimately about
our lives and perspectives on issues of culture, faith, community, and context.”2
Anthropologists use a range of approaches to gather information and improve their
understanding as part of the broader practice of participant observation. Ethnographic
interviews include a structured, documented discourse with study participants. They can be
professional, such as recording an interview based on a list of questions, or somewhat casual,
with questions improvised on the spot and notes taken afterward. One interview method that
anthropologists may use is ‘focus groups’. Focus groups are “a type of interview in which small
groups of people are asked to discuss a particular topic while the anthropologist takes notes.”3
This method is beneficial because it allows the anthropologist to receive information from a
group of individuals and receive more information over all from more people.
REAP (Rapid Ethnographic Assessment Procedures) is the time-compressed use of focus groups,
ethnographic interviews, mapping, and other methods within a frame-work of participant
observation.4 One benefit of using REAP is that is allows for the continuous fieldwork demands
of significant emotional and financial investment, and many researchers want to extract as much
value as possible from ethnography even if they don't have the time or funds to spend years in the
field. One challenge that may be caused by REAP is that it;may;last weeks, days, or
hours.;Researchers must realize;the short-term nature of the study restricts the validity of
1 Brian M. Howell and Jenell Paris, Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective (Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Publishing Group, 2019), 14
2 Brian M. Howell and Jenell Paris, Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective (Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Publishing Group, 2019), 11.
3 Brian M. Howell and Jenell Paris, Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective (Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Publishing Group, 2019), 13.
4 Brian M. Howell and Jenell Paris, Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective (Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Publishing Group, 2019), 13.
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findings, as well as how ethnographic methodologies improve their findings beyond what a
simple questionnaire or detached observation might produce.
Worldview is the way people view the world; Dr. Melody Harpers describes it as “the
lens through which we view the world around us. It’s the filter through which we interpret
everything that is happening around us.”5 The worldview impacts the researcher’s approach to
their research because they view and observe the culture from the outside. Viewing it from the
outside only allows opinions to be formulated rather than truly experiencing one’s culture by
living it. This also has an impact on the interactions between the researcher and the research
participant because it allows the researcher to go beyond the actions and into the cultural
values. Underneath the values are the cultures' beliefs, which define what we believe to be good
and how we act. The way we see the environment influences how we connect with others,
manage circumstances, and interpret events. “Acknowledging and recognizing different
worldviews doesn't mean that we have to agree with them but it does change the conversation
and it changes the way we interact with people when we begin to dialogue and ask questions in
process things from that core of worldview that allows the conversation to change it allows us to
interact on a different level and to realize that instead of just debating behavior we can go down
go deeper.”6Opening our mind to others’ cultures gives us the opportunity to understand more
and learn more.
Bibliography
5 Harper, Melody. “Worldview.” Liberty University. 2019.
6 Harper, Melody. “Worldview.” Liberty University. 2019.
