Reference no: EM13810382

Research Methods

Competency: Psychology - Must be able to describe and discuss the principles and concepts of psychology.

Objective1 : Compare and contrast the investigational techniques utilized by sociologists and anthropologists.

Objective 2: Identify the philosophical justifications for the investigational techniques utilized in sociology and anthropology.

Given:

As with many of the social sciences, sociology and cultural anthropology rely upon specified investigational and research techniques. While many of these investigational approaches have similar characteristics and qualities in regard to generally accepted research methods, they also differ according to intent, purpose, and methodology. These differences are often philosophical in nature and are reflective of the inherent differences between the disciplines of sociology and cultural anthropology. As with all areas of inquiry, sociology and anthropology have methods of research that are based on approaches to inquiry and discovery with philosophical roots.

Such philosophical roots determine the degree to which a researcher will interact with participants and make inferences or conclusions about certain observable phenomena.

Task:

Write a brief essay (suggested length of 2 pages) in which you do the following:

A. Describe two research methods used in sociology.

1. Discuss the philosophical justifications for one of these sociological research methods.

B. Describe two research methods used in cultural anthropology. (At least one of the research methods chosen must differ from those that you have identified for the discipline of sociology.)

1. Discuss the philosophical justifications for one of these anthropological research methods. (The philosophical justification must differ from what you have identified for methods in sociology.)

C. Compare and contrast sociological and anthropological approaches to research based on the methods you have described.

D. When you use sources, include all in-text citations and references in APA format.

Note: When using sources to support ideas and elements in a paper or project, the submission MUST include APA formatted in-text citations with a corresponding reference list for any direct quotes or paraphrasing.