The realities of the globalized world have revolutionized traditional concepts of culture, community, and identity—so how do applied social scientists use complicated, fluid new ideas such as translocality and ethnoscape to solve pressing human problems? In this book, leading scholar/practitioners survey the development of different subfields over at least two decades, then offer concrete case studies to show how they have incorporated and refined new concepts and methods. After an introduction synthesizing anthropological practice, key theoretical concepts, and ethnographic methods, chapters examine the arenas of public health, community development, finance, technology, transportation, gender, environment, immigration, aging, and child welfare. An innovative guide to joining dynamic theoretical concepts with on-the-ground problem solving, this book will be of interest to practitioners from a wide range of disciplines who work on social change, as well as an excellent addition to graduate and undergraduate courses.

The reader offers a selection of 39 articles written in the words of those cultural anthropologists who are making their discipline useful.... Realizing that many other articles could have been included, the categories and the articles contained with them, are meant to be suggestive rather than exhaustive. The reader can be used effectively as a supplement to any introductory textbook in cultural anthropology. The readings would be appropriate for undergraduate level courses in applied anthropology. The intent of this reader is twofold. First, it is to provide undergraduate anthropology students with a wide range of examples as to how the discipline is making meaningful contributions to the mitigation of human problems. And second, [the editor hopes] to convey, through the words of the practicing anthropologists themselves, some of the challenges and rewards involved in making cultural anthropology useful. -Pref.

In addition to a comprehensive overview of the discipline, CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY: AN APPLIED PERSPECTIVE, goes beyond basic introductory material by applying the theory, insights, and methods of cultural anthropology to contemporary situations that students both majors and non-majors are likely to encounter in their professional and personal lives. In the Eighth Edition, new co-author Susan Andreatta adds her expertise in economic and medical anthropology to that of Gary Ferraro, who has worked extensively in the anthropology of business, education, and organizational structures. Through the book’s lucid narrative and wealth of modern examples, students come to understand how to view the world in which they find themselves today. New applied case studies opening each chapter are designed to catch the attention of students and remind them that the study of anthropology really is relevant to our lives. These introductory case studies, the popular Cross-Cultural Miscues presenting real-life examples, and Applied Perspectives features are now designated with a SWAP icon (Share with a Parent or friend) to encourage students to recognize the importance and necessity of understanding culture what it is and how it changes as individuals living in today’s world. The Contemporary Issues features and in-text examples also emphasize the relevance of anthropology to students’ lives and include new topics, including how South Korean society has rethought the value of having female children and whether or not professional anthropologists should work for the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan, to help students better understand and participate in the globalized world around them. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

This concise and accessible introduction establishes the relevance of cultural anthropology for the modern world through an integrated, ethnographically informed approach. The book develops readers’ understanding and engagement by addressing key issues such as: What it means to be human The key characteristics of culture as a concept Relocation and dislocation of peoples The conflict between political, social and ethnic boundaries The concept of economic anthropology Cultural Anthropology: 101 includes case studies from both classic and contemporary ethnography, as well as a comprehensive bibliography and index. It is an essential guide for students approaching this fascinating field for the first time.

The Handbook of Methods in Cultural Anthropology, now in its second edition, maintains a strong benchmark for understanding the scope of contemporary anthropological field methods. Avoiding divisive debates over science and humanism, the contributors draw upon both traditions to explore fieldwork in practice. The second edition also reflects major developments of the past decade, including: the rising prominence of mixed methods, the emergence of new technologies, and evolving views on ethnographic writing. Spanning the chain of research, from designing a project through methods of data collection and interpretive analysis, the Handbook features new chapters on ethnography of online communities, social survey research, and network and geospatial analysis. Considered discussion of ethics, epistemology, and the presentation of research results to diverse audiences round out the volume. The result is an essential guide for all scholars, professionals, and advanced students who employ fieldwork.

This book presents a coherent view of the field of applied anthropology; it details such areas as specialization, applied research & cultures of policy.

As a practical bridge between the classroom and the field, this down-to-earth, hands-on collection offers an impressive range of insightful, focused vignettes about cultural research that will jumpstart students thinking about the practice of anthropology. Reflecting the contributions of nearly two dozen practicing social scientists, each clearly written chapter of Doing Cultural Anthropology covers the fundamentals of a different data-collection technique. Following an overview of a particular ethnographic method, each author describes his or her own research project and shows how that technique is utilized. Learning-by-doing remains the thrust of the latest edition, which includes two new chapters plus significant revisions to five of the original contributions. Each chapter ends with suggestions for student projects that promote hands-on exposure to what ethnographers actually do. Readers are given just enough information to appreciate the technique and to practice it for themselves.

An essential career-planning resource, A Handbook of Practicing Anthropology presents a comprehensive account of contemporary anthropological practice written primarily by anthropological practitioners Engagingly written and instructive accounts of practice by anthropological professionals working in corporations, governmental, entrepreneurial, and educational settings Provides essential guidance on applying anthropological principles on the job: what works well and what must be learned Emphasizes the value of collaboration, teamwork, and continuous learning as key elements to success in non-academic careers Highlights the range of successful career options for practitioners , describes significant sectors of professional activity, and discusses key issues, concerns, and controversies in the field Chapters examine key practice sectors such as freelancing, managing a consulting firm, working for government, non-profits, and corporations, and the domains of health, industry, education, international development, and the military