Read the text and answer the questions
Anthropology
1) Anthropology distinguishes itself from the other social sciences
by its greater emphasis on fieldwork as the source of new
knowledge. The aim of such studies is to develop as intimate an
understanding as possible of the phenomena investigated. Although
the length of field studies varies from a few weeks to years, it is
generally agreed that anthropologists should stay in the field long
enough for their presence to be considered ‘natural’ by the
permanent residents.
2) Realistically, however, anthropologists may never reach this
status. Their foreign mannerisms make them appear clownish, and
so they are treated with curiosity and amusement. If they speak the
local language at all, they do so with a strange accent and flawed
grammar. They ask tactless questions and inadvertently break rules
regarding how things are usually done. Arguably this could be an
interesting starting point for research, though it is rarely exploited.
Otherwise, anthropologists take on the role of the ‘superior expert’,
in which case they are treated with deference and respect, only
coming into contact with the most high-ranking members of the
society. Anthropologists with this role may never witness
the gamut of practices which take place in all levels of the society.
3) No matter which role one takes on, anthropologists generally
find fieldwork extremely demanding. Anthropological texts may read
like an exciting journey of exploration, but rarely is this so. Long
periods of time spent in the field are generally characterised by
boredom, illness and frustration. Anthropologists in the field
encounter unfamiliar climates, strange food and low standards of
hygiene. It is often particularly trying for researchers with middle-
class, European backgrounds to adapt to societies where being
alone is considered pitiful. It takes a dedicated individual to conduct
research which is not in some way influenced by these personal
discomforts.
4) Nonetheless, fieldwork requires the researcher to spend as much
time as possible in local life. A range of research methodologies can
be utilised to extract information. (1) These can be classified
as emic or etic. (2) While emic descriptions are considered more
desirable nowadays, they are difficult to attain, even if the
researcher does his utmost to reproduce the facts from the natives’
point of view. (3) More often than not, aspects of the researcher’s
own culture, perspective and literary style seep into the narrative.
Moreover, research generally involves translations from one
language to another and from speech into writing. In doing this, the
meaning of utterances is changed. (4) The only truly emic
descriptions can be those given by the natives themselves in their
own vernacular.
5) The least invasive type of research methodology is observation.
Here, the researcher studies the group and records findings without
intruding too much on their privacy. This is not to say, however, that
the presence of the researcher will have minimal impact on the
findings. An example was Richard Borshay Lee, who, in studying
local groups in the Kalahari refused to provide the people with food
so as not to taint his research, leading to an inevitable hostility
towards the researcher which would not otherwise have been
present.
www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/TOEFL_reading
1 The main premise of the text is…
A. the steps to be followed when undertaking anthropological
fieldwork.
B. a history of anthropological fieldwork methodology.
C. the effects that an anthropological fieldwork has on local
communities.
D. the problems with conducting anthropological fieldwork.
2 The main reason for anthropological researchers remaining in a
community for an extended period of time is that…
A. they can gather as much information as possible.
B. they can try out a range of different research methodologies.
C. they want local people to behave naturally around them.
D. they need time to become accustomed to the conditions.
3 What does the passage say about researchers who are considered
a ‘clown’ by locals?
A. They do culturally unacceptable things without realising
it.
B. They do not gain respect among high-ranking members
of the community.
C. They cannot conduct any research of value.
D. They do not study the language and culture of the region
before their arrival.
4 What does ‘gamut’ mean?
A. idea or impression
B. prohibition or taboo
C. range or extent
D. secret or mystery
5 The writer believes that the most difficult aspect of fieldwork for
educated westerners is
A. the lack of companionship.
B. poor sanitary conditions.
C. failure to meet expectations.
D. never being left alone.
6 In paragraph 3, it is implied that…
A. the fieldworker’s emotions and mood prejudice the research.
B. the longer a researcher spends in the field, the more depressed
he gets.
C. middle-class Europeans find field research more difficult than
researchers from other backgrounds.
D. anthropological texts tend to exaggerate the difficult conditions
that researchers experience.
7 Where in paragraph 4 does this sentence belong?
A native’s point of view of his own lifestyle is emic, while the
analytical perspective of the outsider is etic.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
8 Which of the following is NOT true about an emic account?
A. It is likely to be more analytical in style than an etic account.
B. It is told from the perspective of the person being studied.
C. It is currently the preferred way of conducting anthropological
research.
D. It cannot be translated without altering its meaning.
9 Why is the example of Richard Borshay Lee given in paragraph 5?
A. to demonstrate that observation is an ineffective method of
gathering data.
B. to highlight why it is important that researchers minimize their
impact on a community.
C. to show the dangers of researchers trying to lessen their
impact on a community
D. to show how a researcher’s choice of methodology can
influence the validity of his findings.
