Anthropology Optional (Research methods in Anthropology) by Sourabh Mishra

Model Answer

Question #1. Fieldwork traditions in Indian Anthropology.  10 marks (150 words)

Approach

1. Introduce the Indian Anthropology
2. Origin of the fieldwork traditions in Indian Anthropology
3. W.H.R Rivers and Radcliffe Brown fieldwork in Indian
4. The Father of Indian Ethnography- S.C Roy
5. Fieldwork by D.N. Majumdar and M.N. Srinivas 6. Conclusion

Hints:

Introduction:

In India the study of Man and his society was started from the period of Manu in one way or the other. The Manu-smriti gives an exhaustive social and structural account of the people of India. The main principals of social structure presented by Manu are many, but important ones are:

• Origin of the universe.
• Principle of Varna.
• Principle of Ashram.
• Division of Labour.
• Religious duty and responsibility and
• Inheritance of property

Origin of the fieldwork traditions in Indian Anthropology:

• The systematic study of Indian society is recent in origin. During 18th century A.D. the British Government felt the necessity to have an ethnographic account on different tribes and castes of India with a view to rule them easily.
• Thus, fieldwork and researches of anthropological interest were started in India in 18th century A.D. by colonial administration, missionaries and some orientalists, who wanted to know the cultural history of India.

W.H.R Rivers and Radcliffe Brown fieldwork in Indian:

Some British anthropologist like W.H.R Rivers and Radcliffe Brown came to India to record the customs and tradition of Indian tribes.

• Rivers came in India in 1904 and studied the Toda tribe of South India, which was published in 1906. Another British anthropologist, Radcliffe Brown came to India to study ‘Onge’ tribe of Andaman Island in 1906 to 1908. Monograph on ‘Onge’ was published in 1922 under the title, Andaman Islands from London.

The Father of Indian Ethnography- S.C Roy:

• Among Indian scholars S.C Roy is regarded as ‘The Father of Indian Ethnography’. He is also regarded as the first Indian anthropologist.
• Roy was a lawyer by profession. When he settled at Ranchi to establish his practice as a pleader, he came in contact with the tribal people of Chota Nagpur.
• He gradually developed interest in life and culture of Chota Nagpur. He moved in different tribal villages to record their traditions.
• Besides, as he was a lawyer of Chota Nagpur tribals, he got opportunities to take group and individual interviews of tribal informants, who used to come to him in connection with cases.
• As result, he published his book on ‘Munda’ (1912), Oraon (1951), Birhor (1952), Kharia (1937). He also conducted field work among Bhuiyas of Orisaa and published his book in (1935)
• In the field of prehistoric archaeology, his important contribution is digging up of Asura sites. According to him, from material obtained during excavations, Asura were the pre-Munda inhabitants of Chota Nagpur.

Fieldwork by D.N. Majumdar and M.N. Srinivas:

• D.N. Majumdar conducted fieldwork among Ho tribe of Kolhan Bihar (Singbhum), which appeared as book in 1937.
• M.N. Srinivas conducted filedwork in Coorg for one year (1940-41) and gathered data on marriage and family, which was published in 1942.
• The study on religion in the context of Indian villages was initiated by M.N Srinivas in his book ‘Religion and Society among Coorgs of South India’ (1952).
• He developed the concept of Sanskritization to explain the Brahmicical process of change in Hindu villages.
• A full-length study of the Sacred City of Gaya is attempted by Vidyarthi in his book, ‘Sacred Complex in Hindu Gaya’, (1961). The study focuses the city of Gaya as dimensions of Indian civilization in the framework of Red-field and Milton Singer’s theories of civilization.

Indian anthropologist, under the influence of Chicago University, started studying traditional and modern cities of India to understand them as dimensions of Indian civilizations, and also to analyse the folk-Urban continuum and interactions.

Conclusion:

 Today, greater significance is being attacked by the anthropologist on problem oriented researches. The problem related to urbanization, industrialization, women, children, deprived ecological settings, bonded labour, health, education etc. are being explored, and impact of development schemes are being assessed and evaluated. Some useful, suggestion are also leading made to solve the problems and to make the programs successful.

Question #2. Discuss the advantages and limitations of participant - observations as a technique of data collection. 15 marks (250 words)

Approach

1. Introduce the observation
2. Features of Observation
3. The features of participant observation
4. Merits of the participant observation
5. Limitations of the participant observation
6. Conclusion

Hints:

 Introduction:

 Observing and being observed are two important features of modern society. In social research, one of the most important and extensively used methods is Observation. In the contemporary western world, people are under constant observation wherever they go.

Features of Observation:

• All observations are not scientific.
• An observation becomes scientific only if it is planned and executed systematically.
• It may take place in a real-life setting or in a laboratory.
• Herskovits, the American Anthropologist terms the field as the ‘ethnographer’s laboratory’.

Several types of field observation have been used in anthropological research. A researcher can observe the day-to-day life of the group under study either by participating or without participating in it. Observation is divided mainly into two types: Uncontrolled observation and Controlled observation.

• Uncontrolled Observation is a form of observation made in the natural environment without being influenced by outside control or external factors. There are two types of uncontrolled observations, participant observation, and non-participant observation .
• Participant Observation: When the researcher actively participates in the activities of the group under investigation, it is known as participant observation.
• In the extreme level of participant observation, the researcher might conceal one’s identity. It can be called total participant observation .

The features of participant observation are detailed below:

• Takes part in the social events which she or he is observing.
• Assumes a role or undertakes a job that is acceptable in the given social context
• Ensures that the observer’s presence in the group does not disturb the normal life of the group .
• Generally, lives, shares, and participates in the everyday life of the group.
• Associates with the group not as a researcher but as a full-fledged member of the group.
• Observe the behaviour of the members of the community.
• Discerns the inter-action and relationship between them.
• Engages in conversation with them to find out their responses, meanings, and explanations of the events that occur
• Studies the life of a community or social unit as a whole (holistic study)

The success of the participant observation depends on one’s skill and personality. The observer’s task is to place oneself in the best position for getting a complete and unbiased picture of the life of the community. Generally, participant observation is considered the king of uncontrolled observation.

Merits of the participant observation are:

• Help to acquire the information which is true and extensive.
• Observer gets the opportunity to observe the natural behaviour of the people or society.
• To get greater insight into the phenomenon. Limitations of the participant observation:
• No definite time can be predicted for a participant-observer required to spend with the group for collecting the right data.
• Observer may be biased or has an emotional attachment with a kind of ideology or thought process.
• All the phenomena and behaviour are not subjected to observation.
• For an effective collection of data, one could not maintain the objective of the research. The main aim of the data collection may be lost during the process.
• The resources like, time and money that are required to carry out participant observation is a major limitation as it needs more investment.
• Authenticity of Historical data collection during observation.

Conclusion: Participant Observation is one form of data collection and it needs some precautions while used for data collection in the field. For eliminating its drawbacks, one should maintain objectivity, irrespective of developing a high level of proximity through a successful rapport establishment with the group in the course of one’s research