Cultures In Context Anthropology Of Food

Politics & Social Sciences

Bryant, Carol A.

DeWalt, Kathleen M.

Courtney, Anita

Schwartz, Jeffery

Anthropology

Thomson/Brooks/Cole

THE CULTURAL FEAST looks at the impact of evolution, geography, environment, social structure, and religion on food practices around the world. The text is comprised of three units. The first unit explains the myriad influences on human diet and examines the role of evolution on contemporary food practices. The second unit looks at factors that influence current food practices, such as dietary revolutions that accompany advancements in agricultural practices; the influence of culture in what, how, when, and why we eat; and the influence of religion, social organizations and industrialization on foodways. The third unit of the text looks at nutrition problems and solutions to those problems. The text explores global and domestic hunger, examines diseases of under- and over-nutrition, and looks at dietary behavior change and large-scale programs to change dietary practices.

The Cultural Feast: An Introduction to Food and Society

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Diets & Weight Loss

Brooks/Cole

Participant Observation: A Guide for Fieldworkers

Participant Observation is a central and defining method of research in cultural anthropology, as well as a common feature of qualitative research in a number of other disciplines—sociology, education, health sciences. The authors have written the basic guide to the collection of systematic data in naturalistic settings—communities in many different cultures—to achieve an understanding of the most fundamental processes and patterns of social life. This book is written for the beginning researcher in qualitative and ethnographic methods, and is a useful reference for the experienced researcher who wishes to develop further field skills. Kathleen and Billie DeWalt provide a summary of the theoretical and historical background of the method, but focus especially on practical applications and acquisition of the techniques of participant observation. Chapters include explanations of becoming a participant (involvement) and an observer (detachment) in fieldwork; sampling techniques; gender and sex issues in the field; designing research; language facility and cross-cultural communication skills; informal interviewing; writing descriptive field notes; analyzing field notes; and dealing with culture shock, dangerous field situations and ethical concerns. The advantages of participant observation exist in enhancing the quality of research data and continual reassessment of research questions. Participant observation is the foundation of ethnographic research design, and supports and complements other types of qualitative and quantitative data collection. This book will be a valuable reference for anthropologists, sociologists, and other researchers who employ qualitative methods in their research.

DeWalt, Billie R.

Social Sciences

AltaMira Press

Participant Observation is a central and defining method of research in cultural anthropology, as well as a common feature of qualitative research in a number of other disciplines―sociology, education, health sciences. The authors have written the basic guide to the collection of systematic data in naturalistic settings―communities in many different cultures―to achieve an understanding of the most fundamental processes and patterns of social life. This book is written for the beginning researcher in qualitative and ethnographic methods, and is a useful reference for the experienced researcher who wishes to develop further field skills. Kathleen and Billie DeWalt provide a summary of the theoretical and historical background of the method, but focus especially on practical applications and acquisition of the techniques of participant observation. Chapters include explanations of becoming a participant (involvement) and an observer (detachment) in fieldwork; sampling techniques; gender and sex issues in the field; designing research; language facility and cross-cultural communication skills; informal interviewing; writing descriptive field notes; analyzing field notes; and dealing with culture shock, dangerous field situations and ethical concerns. The advantages of participant observation exist in enhancing the quality of research data and continual reassessment of research questions. Participant observation is the foundation of ethnographic research design, and supports and complements other types of qualitative and quantitative data collection. This book will be a valuable reference for anthropologists, sociologists, and other researchers who employ qualitative methods in their research.

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