• Home
  • About
  • Academy
  • Events
  • Blog
  • eBooks
  • Join
    • Join the Club!
    • Register
    • Club Login/Logout
    • Club Profile
    • My Reward Status
    • Club Rewards
    • Club Forums
  • Portfolio
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Mentions & Interviews
    • Publications
    • Gallery
  • Resources
    • Anthropology Links
    • Recommended Reading
    • Anthropology Articles
    • Anthropology 4U Videos
    • SlideShare Presentations
  • FAQ
    • FAQ: General
    • FAQ: Academy
    • FAQ: Club
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
    Questions? Call/Text/Email
    509.818.3312
    info@Anthropology4U.com
    Club Login
    Anthropology 4UAnthropology 4U
    • Home
    • About
    • Academy
    • Events
    • Blog
    • eBooks
    • Join
      • Join the Club!
      • Register
      • Club Login/Logout
      • Club Profile
      • My Reward Status
      • Club Rewards
      • Club Forums
    • Portfolio
      • Curriculum Vitae
      • Mentions & Interviews
      • Publications
      • Gallery
    • Resources
      • Anthropology Links
      • Recommended Reading
      • Anthropology Articles
      • Anthropology 4U Videos
      • SlideShare Presentations
    • FAQ
      • FAQ: General
      • FAQ: Academy
      • FAQ: Club
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms & Conditions
    • Contact

      Research Methods

      Survey Research in Anthropology: Part 1- Finding a Research Topic

      • CategoriesResearch Methods
      • Date December 16, 2019
      Finding a Research Topic fro a Survey. Image of a person's hand selecting a happy face.

      So, in the last blog post, you learned that sometimes Anthropologists use surveys to collect data on the people they are studying. In this blog post, I’ll be talking about finding a research topic.

      When you want to give out a survey, there are questions that you want answered. But how do you know what to ask people? Well, you need to find a research topic and a research question. Your survey can then help you answer your research question.

      If you are a student, maybe your instructor has already given you a research topic or question. But what if you are starting from scratch? How do you come up with a research topic and research question? This post will address finding a research topic, and the next post will show you how to get a research question.

      The first thing to do is to figure out what interests you. Your research topic should be something that you are interested in, otherwise, it will be boring and you won’t have a lot of motivation to finish the research. For example, are you interested in food and nutrition? Or maybe education and literacy? Or something else? Take some time and figure out what interests you.

      If you need help figuring out what you are interested in, then try going to a university library, and visiting the section where the Anthropology-related books are. Browse the books for a couple of hours, and see if you find anything interesting.

      You could also browse through an introductory textbook on Cultural Anthropology. Typically, each chapter in a Cultural Anthropology textbook is about a different topic—for example, there’ll probably be a chapter on economics, a chapter on gender, a chapter on families and kinship, and so on.

      Another way to browse topics to see what you are interested in is to use the Outline of Cultural Materials from the HRAF (Human Relations Area Files). This is a list of broad topics in Anthropology and can be found online here: https://hraf.yale.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Subjects-in-eHRAF.pdf

      So, now you should have determined what broad topic in Anthropology interests you. The second thing to do is to do some background research to get an overview of your topic. This will help you get a general understanding of your topic, and help you figure out what subtopics are in your general topic.

      A good way to do this is to use a specialized encyclopedia. You’ll need to go to a university library and find an Anthropology-related encyclopedia. If you don’t know where to look, just ask the librarian for help. You can also search for online Anthropology encyclopedias, but most of them require a subscription. See if a library near you has access to any online Anthropology-related encyclopedias.

      There is a new open-access encyclopedia called the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Anthropology, which is online at this address: anthroencycloedia.com. More and more topics are being added to this encyclopedia, and it might have some information on your topic.

      You can also look at an introductory Cultural Anthropology textbook, and read the sections of the book that contain the topic you are interested in.

      So, now you know a little more about your topic of interest. The next step is to narrow your topic down to a subtopic. For example, say you are interested in health and illness. You did some background reading and decided that infectious diseases were an interesting subtopic to study. Even though you have chosen a topic (health and illness) and narrowed it down (to infectious diseases), this is still way too big a topic– it needs to be narrowed down even further. For example, maybe just research one disease, so let’s say you pick influenza — the flu. Now you have a basic working research topic, influenza.

      You’ll still need to narrow this topic down further and choose a research question, but these will be discussed in the next blog post.

      Want to Learn More About Survey Research?

      Just join my Udemy class, “Exploring Surveys in Anthropology Research: Anthropology 4U.”

      Thanks for reading!

      Tag:Surveys

      • Share:
      author avatar
      Anthropology 4U

        Hi! I'm Keirsten Snover and I'm an Anthropologist.

        Previous post

        Research Methods in Anthropology: Surveys
        December 16, 2019

        Next post

        Survey Research in Anthropology: Part 2 - Finding a Research Question
        December 23, 2019

        You may also like

        Focus group composition.
        Research Methods in Anthropology: Focus Group Composition
        16 November, 2020
        focus groups examples Anthropology. image of multicolored game pieces in a group with a white background.
        Focus Groups: Examples in Anthropology
        9 November, 2020
        Focus Groups. Image of a long white table with blue chairs in a room with a window and blue couch.
        Research Methods in Anthropology: The Uses of Focus Groups
        2 November, 2020

          3 Comments

        1. the sims 3 nightlife crack download
          January 24, 2020

          Heya this is kinda of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!| а

          • Anthropology 4U
            January 25, 2020

            Hi! Thanks for your comment. I’m under the impression that you can either use editors or manually code with HTML. I use WordPress for my blog, which is a WYSIWYG editor, but you can customize lots of things. I’d highly suggest using it for your blog–you don’t need to know how to code or anything! Best Wishes! –Keirsten

        Categories

        • Archaeology (9)
        • Cultural Anthropology (33)
        • Forensic Anthropology (2)
        • General Anthropology (18)
        • Linguistic Anthropology (6)
        • Medical Anthropology (7)
        • Physical Anthropology (12)
        • Research Methods (14)

        Tags

        Applied AnthropologyArtArtifactsCOVID19CultureEthicsEventsEvolutionFamilyFAQFocus GroupsFoodFree ListingGenderGenealogyLanguageMarriageMusicNutritionOnline ResourcesParticipant ObservationPrimatesPsychologyReligionSitesSpaceSurveys

        Latest Courses

        What is Anthropology?

        What is Anthropology?

        Free
        Exploring Surveys in Anthropology Research

        Exploring Surveys in Anthropology Research

        $49.99
        Exploring Focus Groups in Anthropology Research

        Exploring Focus Groups in Anthropology Research

        $74.99
        Exploring Genetics & Evolution Through Physical Anthropology

        Exploring Genetics & Evolution Through Physical Anthropology

        $74.99

        INSTAGRAM

        anthropology4u

        Keirsten Snover
        #MarketingMonday FREE webinar for beginners in cel#MarketingMonday FREE webinar for beginners in celebration of World Anthropology Day! In "A Beginner's Guide to the 4 Fields of Anthropology," you'll learn a little about each of the 4 fields and several subfields, along with real-world applications. Tickets are limited, so save your spot today at Anthropology4U.com/events Webinar will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 1:00pm Pacific time (USA).Interested but can't attend? Sign up anyway to get a copy of the recording sent by email!#MarketingMondays #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #culturalanthropology #culturalanthro #culturalanthropologist #physicalanthropology #physicalanthropologystudent #physicalanthro #physicalanthropologist #biologicalanthropology #linguisticanthropology #anthropologicallinguistics #archaeology #archaeologylife #archaeologystudent #archaeologylovers #archaeology_lovers #archaeologyiscool #archaeologynerd #webinar #webinars #webinaronline #webinarfree
        #SundayRead Are you interested in Medical Anthropo#SundayRead Are you interested in Medical Anthropology? Check out the book, "The Handbook of Social Studies in Health & Medicine." Learn about social & cultural frameworks of analysis, the experience of health and illness, and health care system & practices.#SundayReading #SundayReads #SundayReadings #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #medicalanthropology #medicalanthropologist #culturalanthropology #culturalanthro #culturalanthropologist
        Are you interested in Physical/Biological AnthropoAre you interested in Physical/Biological Anthropology? Check out the book, "An Introduction to Molecular Anthropology." Learn about genes, evolutionary forces, genetic markers, ancient DNA, and more!#Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #physicalanthropology #physicalanthropologystudent #physicalanthro #physicalanthropologist #biologicalanthropology #book #books #booklover #booklovers #bookstagram #bookaddict #booknerd #bookworm #booklove #bookgeek #bookrecommendations
        #FunFactFriday #DidYouKnow? Business Anthropology #FunFactFriday #DidYouKnow? Business Anthropology involves applying anthropology to the needs of businesses.#FunFact #FunFacts #FactFriday #didyouknowfacts #didyouknowthat #didyouknowfact #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #culturalanthropology #culturalanthro #culturalanthropologist
        Interested in Physical/Biological Anthropology? ChInterested in Physical/Biological Anthropology? Check out the "Laboratory Manual and Workbook for Biological Anthropology: Engaging with Human Evolution." This workbook reviews basic concepts and tests the reader on those concepts through review questions. It also includes numerous lab exercises and critical thinking questions. Materials needed for the labs are included in the workbook, so if you don't have access to things like a skeleton, that's okay. While the answers are not included (since it is meant to be a college text), this workbook is a great way to learn basic information in small chunks. #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #physicalanthropology #physicalanthropologystudent #physicalanthro #physicalanthropologist #biologicalanthropology #forensicanthropology #forensic #forensics #primate #primates #book #books #booklover #booklovers #bookstagram #bookaddict #booknerd #bookworm #booklove #bookgeek #bookrecommendations
        #DidYouKnow? Environmental Anthropology is the stu#DidYouKnow? Environmental Anthropology is the study of the relationships between people and their environment.#didyouknowfacts #didyouknowthat #didyouknowfact #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #culturalanthropology #culturalanthro #culturalanthropologist
        Are you interested in learning about Cultural AnthAre you interested in learning about Cultural Anthropology? Then check out the textbook, "Cultural Anthropology: Appreciating Cultural Diversity." Learn about the field of Anthropology, method and theory, applying Anthropology, cultural diversity, and lots more!#Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #culturalanthropology #culturalanthro #culturalanthropologist #book #books #booklover #booklovers #bookstagram #bookaddict #booknerd #bookworm #booklove #bookgeek #bookrecommendations
        #DidYouKnow? Legal Anthropology is the study of la#DidYouKnow? Legal Anthropology is the study of law in other cultures.#didyouknowfacts #didyouknowthat #didyouknowfact #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #culturalanthropology #culturalanthro #culturalanthropologist
        #SundayRead Are you interested in Bioarchaeology? #SundayRead Are you interested in Bioarchaeology? Then check out the book, "The Bioarchaeology of Artificial Cranial Modifications." Learn about cultural frameworks for studying cranial modifications, regional practices and their cultural meanings, and more!#Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #physicalanthropology #physicalanthropologystudent #physicalanthro #physicalanthropologist #biologicalanthropology #archaeology #archaeologylife #archaeologystudent #archaeologylovers #archaeology_lovers #archaeologyiscool #archaeologynerd #bioarchaeology #bioarchaeologist #book #books #booklover #booklovers #bookstagram #bookaddict #bookgeek #bookrecommendations
        #DidYouKnow In Cultural Anthropology, what is ethn#DidYouKnow In Cultural Anthropology, what is ethnographic fieldwork? Ethnographic fieldwork is a research method where the anthropologist studies a culture over a long period of time, often using participant observation. This means the anthropologist lives with the people under study, and observes and participates in daily life.#didyouknowfacts #didyouknowthat #didyouknowfact #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #culturalanthropology #culturalanthro #culturalanthropologist
        #FunFactFriday Did you know that when a couple get#FunFactFriday Did you know that when a couple gets married, where they live afterward is called a postmarital residence pattern? Some options for residence are living with (or near) the husband's family, with (or near) the wife's family, or creating a new independent residence.#FunFact #FunFacts #FactFriday #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #culturalanthropology #culturalanthro #culturalanthropologist #didyouknow #didyouknowfacts #didyouknowthat #didyouknowfact
        Are you interested in Linguistic Anthropology? TheAre you interested in Linguistic Anthropology? Then check out this book, "Research Methods in Linguistics," edited by Robert J. Podesva and Devyani Sharma. Learn about ethics in linguistic research, fieldwork, transcription, discourse analysis, and more!#Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #language #linguistic #linguistics #linguisticanthropology #languages #anthropologicallinguistics #book #books #booklover #booklovers #bookstagram #bookaddict #booknerd #bookworm #booklove #bookgeek #bookrecommendations
        Are you interested in Archaeology? Then check out Are you interested in Archaeology? Then check out the textbook, "Archaeology: A Brief Introduction," by Brian M. Fagan and Nadia Durrani. Learn about finding and dating sites, excavation, archaeological classification, and lots more!#Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #archaeology #archaeologylife #archaeologystudent #archaeologylovers #archaeology_lovers #archaeologyiscool #archaeologynerd #book #books #booklover #booklovers #bookstagram #bookaddict #booknerd #bookworm #booklove #bookgeek #bookrecommendations
        #TestimonialTuesday Hear what one Anthropology 4U #TestimonialTuesday Hear what one Anthropology 4U student had to say about a course: "The language is so simple & easily understandable" --M.A.#Testimonials #Testimonial #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #onlinecourse #onlinecourses #onlinecoursecreator #onlinecoursecreators #udemy #udemycourse #udemycourses
        #DidYouKnow Bioarchaeology is the study of human r#DidYouKnow Bioarchaeology is the study of human remains in their archaeological context. So, it mixes physical/biological anthropology with archaeology.#didyouknowfacts #didyouknowthat #didyouknowfact #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #physicalanthropology #physicalanthropologystudent #physicalanthro #physicalanthropologist #biologicalanthropology #archaeology #archaeologylife #archaeologystudent #archaeologylovers #archaeology_lovers #archaeologyiscool #archaeologynerd #bioarchaeology #bioarchaeologist
        #SundayRead Are you interested in Physical/Biologi#SundayRead Are you interested in Physical/Biological Anthropology? Then check out the book, "Advances in Human Palaeopathology," edited by Ron Pinhasi and Simon Mays. Learn about analytical approaches and the diagnosis & interpretation of disease in human remains.#SundayReading #SundayReads #SundayReadings #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #physicalanthropology #physicalanthropologystudent #physicalanthro #physicalanthropologist #biologicalanthropology #book #books #booklover #booklovers #bookstagram #bookaddict #booknerd #bookworm #booklove #bookgeek #bookrecommendations
        Are you interested in Medical Anthropology? Then cAre you interested in Medical Anthropology? Then check out this book, "Biosocial Worlds: Anthropology of Health Environments Beyond Determinism." Learn about behavioral epigenetics, food as environment, pigs and human health, a new sociobiology, TB, violence, and more!#Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #culturalanthropology #culturalanthro #culturalanthropologist #medicalanthropology #medicalanthropologist #book #books #booklover #booklovers #bookstagram #bookaddict #booknerd #bookworm #booklove #bookgeek #bookrecommendations
        Happy New Year from Anthropology 4U! #AnthropologHappy New Year from Anthropology 4U!#Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #culturalanthropology #culturalanthro #culturalanthropologist #physicalanthropology #physicalanthropologystudent #physicalanthro #physicalanthropologist #biologicalanthropology #linguisticanthropology #anthropologicallinguistics #archaeology #archaeologylife #archaeologystudent #archaeologylovers #archaeology_lovers #archaeologyiscool #archaeologynerd
        #DidYouKnow In Archaeology, the Law of Superpositi#DidYouKnow In Archaeology, the Law of Superposition states that if the ground is undisturbed, then the layers on the bottom were deposited before the layers on the top. So, the bottom layers are older than the top layers of dirt.#didyouknowfacts #didyouknowthat #didyouknowfact #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #archaeology #archaeologylife #archaeologystudent #archaeologylovers #archaeology_lovers #archaeologyiscool #archaeologynerd
        #DidYouKnow Physical/Biological Anthropology teach#DidYouKnow Physical/Biological Anthropology teaches us that skin color is an adaptation to the environment. People with darker skin color tend to be found in the tropics, while people with lighter skin color tend to be found in more northern areas of the world.#didyouknowfacts #didyouknowthat #didyouknowfact #Anthropology #Anthropologist #Anthropologystudent #Anthropologymajor #AnthropologyLife #AnthropologyNerd #ANTH4U #physicalanthropology #physicalanthropologystudent #physicalanthro #physicalanthropologist #biologicalanthropology
        Load More...Follow on Instagram

        Twitter

        Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay! If you are struggling with mental health issues, you are not alone! Mental illnesse…
        https://t.co/6rVmbpUWjM
        October 10, 2020
        COVID-19 Symptoms More Severe For Patients With Neanderthal Genes: Study #Anthropology…
        https://t.co/n0aOn7cPcyhttps://t.co/vR2GP6bGEf
        October 10, 2020

        SOCIAL MEDIA

        • Facebook
        • Twitter
        • LinkedIn
        • Instagram
        • Youtube

        Anthropology 4U

        • info@Anthropology4U.com
        • 509.818.3312

        Designed by Anthropology 4U Copyright 2021

        • Privacy
        • Terms
        • Sitemap

        Login with your site account

        Lost your password?

        Not a member yet? Register now

        Register a new account

        Are you a member? Login now

        Cookies:
        This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
        Privacy & Cookies Policy

        Privacy Overview

        This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
        Necessary
        Always Enabled

        Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

        Non-necessary

        Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.