Debates About Objectivity in Anthropology
The field of anthropology is also fraught with debate surrounding accurate and effective approaches to conducting research. More specifically, there is continued debate about the essentiality of objectivity in anthropological fieldwork. Some hermeneutic scholars contend that it is impossible to remove one’s own preconceived cultural notions from his work. In this line of thought, it is more productive to recognize that the anthropologist is, himself, a culturally programmed observer, and that we must always be weary of biases that influence information we receive. In contrast, the positivist approach to anthropology emphasizes the necessity for an objective, regimented, scientific approach to anthropological research.
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