In the course of participant observation, anthropologists are often called on to do things that they might not ordinarily do. what allows them to develop a keen understanding of beliefs and practices of others as they conduct fieldwork?

The correct answer is Cultural Relativism.

Explanation:

The cultural relativism makes reference to the idea or the point of view that the knowledge, the values, and the behavior of the people must be understood within their own cultural context. an example of this is that we do not have to judge other cultures to our own standards.

Cultural relativism is the thing that enables the anthropologists to develop a sharp understanding of the beliefs and practices of others when conducting fieldwork. Moreover, cultural relativism is behavior, values, and knowledge that individuals have to be understood within their cultural background.

EXPLANATION:

Cultural relativism is one of the most basic concepts in sociology. It identifies and affirms the relationship between the greater social structure and trends and daily lives of everyone. Cultural relativism can be used as an analytical tool by Franz Boas, a German-American anthropologist in the early 20th century.  

In the context of initial social science, cultural relativism grew into an essential tool to encourage a return to ethnocentrism which usually stained the research at that time, which was mostly carried out by white people, wealthy, Western men, and usually focused on colored people, native aliens in the population, and people from lower economic classes than the researchers.

Ethnocentrism is the practice of seeing and valuing other people's cultures according to their values and beliefs. From this point of view, we can frame other cultures as strange, exotic, interesting, and even as problems to be resolved.  

On the contrary, when we realize that many cultures in the world have their own values, beliefs, and practices that have developed in certain political, historical, material, social, and ecological contexts and that it adds up that they would be different from our own culture. and that it is no good or bad or right or wrong, then we use the concept of cultural relativism.

LEARN MORE:  

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, we recommend you to also take a look at the following questions:

•What limits do anthropological studies of modern societies have as historical sources?

•What idea introduced by Malinowski is fundamental to all research conducted by contemporary cultural anthropologists??

KEYWORDS: cultural relativism, anthropologists, fieldwork, research

Subject  : Social Studies

Class  : 10-12

Sub-Chapter: Cultural Relativism