Research Methods in Anthropology: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, Fourth Edition

I have used 'Research Methods in Anthropology' in designing my own Masters, PhD and subsequent research. This book goes with me wherever I am, in Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Puerto Rico, USVI, and other locations. I have also used it to teach graduate students both quantitative and qualitative ethnographic approaches to research. It is comprehensive, as the subtitle suggests, and accessible to every level of researcher, with interesting and often humorous examples. It is an excellent field manual, with useful chapters on basic statistics and even a table for generating random numbers, great for when you are at a field site with no electricity and the battery in your computer is dead. I am on my third copy (having battered the first two copies into oblivion in the field). 'Research methods...' is probably the hardest working book I own.

book turned out great. no writing, no ripped pages, came within 1 week of ordering online. very satisfied.

This book is a must read for every anthropologist and every student of anthropology. Well written and thorough. Balanced and intelligent.

I read this work for a graduate class and found it very helpful. While not avoiding technical language, the author clearly explains concepts in everyday vocabulary. The first chapter on cultural anthropology and social science almost reads like a novel as the author traces the development of science, social science and related fields. The introduction of humor, such as his observation that, when ordered to recant by the Inquisition, Galileo "nearly published and perished" (p. 6), gives the reader pleasure while learning important and sometimes challenging concepts. Another strength of the work's explanations is the author's variety of illustrations, taken from fieldwork in Greece, oceanographic research vessels, Mexico and other locations. The book covers the gamut of anthropological research methods, including research design issues, literature review, observations, interviews, surveys, and analysis of data. One particularly helpful section for the anthropological or qualitative researcher is a chapter on how to take, code and manage field notes. The practical nuts and bolts explanation gives the reader one method for handling field notes. Bernard notes, "I wish I had used this method when I was doing my own MA and Ph.D. fieldwork" (p. 181). The chapters on statistics, while not a substitute for a course in statistics, outlines basic concepts - z-scores, t-test, chi square and more - in basically lay terms. This work would be a good text for an introductory research course, as well as a helpful reference resource for more experienced students and researchers. Although the text has a relatively recent copyright (1995), the section on literature search is already outdated. For example, over four pages are needed to describe how to look up citations in the Social Sciences Citation Index. The SSCI is now available on line, greatly simplifying the search procedure. The OCLC is mentioned, but with the caveat that "while all major libraries (and thousands of minor libraries) throughout the industrialized world have OCLC, they don't give their patrons direct access to the system" (p.135); this is another example of outdated search information due to the rapid changes in these technologies. In spite of the need to update the technical information, the book provides a wealth of information in an understandable format.

I recently, not by choice, read this book for a class for graduate school (Intro. to Public Administration). Not really knowing how the book would read, I was amazed to find out that this is a people watchers dream book as well as a great reference book for human anthropologists in the 21st century. I was amazed to find out how many studies have been done on peoples garbage, how men react in restrooms and in general how people act in our society. This book is truly and eye opener and a great read!!!