Research Paper on:
Rosaldo and Scheper Hughes Anthropological Study Approaches and Limitations

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
used by Renato Rosaldo and Nancy Scheper-Hughes. Generally, both researchers agree that all anthropologists will have a subjective side to their results yet aspects of group research can be analysed  objectively. Rosaldo uses an approach which is based on the knowledge of a cultural citizenship that each individual within a group society possesses and can be used as a base  from which to conduct research. Scheper-Hughes on the other hand, believes that an individuals psyche is formed by a sociocentric concept of self and in order to understand cultures and  the notion of the group, researchers can study those individuals who have been excluded from the group and using their vulnerable nature, can acquire a deeper understanding of an individuals  role within a culture. Both of these approaches give a unique interpretation of a culture yet have certain limitations. Classical socialization theory confines  anthropologists from understanding other cultures thoroughly because it believes that beliefs and values are an outcome of social processes and are taught by an individuals culture and therefore vary greatly  from culture to culture (Spickard, 1998). But this traditional approach did not account for why societies change over time and some anthropologists demanded a more flexible approach. Rosaldo used a  rational-choice theory while studying the Ilongot head hunting beliefs and their change to Christianity (Rosaldo, 1980, 1989). To help explain the differences in the Ilongot culture and the gradual transition  over to Christianity, Rosaldo tried to explain that using the rational-choice theory the Ilongots had traditionally used head-hunting as a way to overcome grief but the ceremony was banned by  the Philippine authorities. Rationally, they needed another outlet to meet their needs and Christianity became a legal practice which fulfilled their requirements (Rosaldo, 1989).