IGNOU| ANTHROPOLOGY AND RESEARCH METHODS (BANC - 131)| SOLVED PAPER – (DEC - 2024)| BAG| ENGLISH MEDIUM
BACHELOR OF ARTS
(GENERAL)
(BAG)
Term-End Examination
[Dec - 2024]
BANC - 131
ANTHROPOLOGY AND RESEARCH METHODS
Time: 3 Hours
Maximum Marks: 100
Note: There are two Sections A and B. Attempt five questions in all, selecting at least two questions from each Section. Word limit for 20 marks questions is 400 words and for 10 marks questions it is 200 words. All questions carry equal marks.
Section-A
1. Define Anthropology. What are the objectives of Anthropology? 20
Ans:- Anthropology is the scientific and holistic
study of humanity, focusing on human beings in all their biological, cultural,
social, and linguistic dimensions, both in the present and in the past. The
term derives from the Greek words anthropos (human) and logos (study),
literally meaning "study of human beings". As a discipline,
anthropology seeks to understand what it means to be human by examining human
behavior, biology, society, cultures, and languages in time and space.
Anthropology
is distinguished by its holistic approach—it studies humans as both biological
and cultural beings, integrating insights from several subfields:-
(i) Cultural
(or social) anthropology: Studies the beliefs, practices, institutions, and
social structures of societies.
(ii)
Biological (or physical) anthropology: Examines human evolution, biological
diversity, and adaptation.
(iii)
Archaeology: Examines past human societies through physical remains.
(iv)
Linguistic Anthropology: Explores language as a key aspect of human life,
including its role in culture and social identity.
Objectives of
Anthropology:-
The primary
objective of anthropology is to gain a broad understanding of human diversity
and similarities and to explain the underlying patterns and meanings that shape
human existence.
Key
objectives include:-
(i) Tracing
human evolution and biological diversity
Studying humans'
evolutionary origins, genetic variation, and adaptation to different
environments.
(ii)
Understanding cultural, social, and linguistic variation
Analyze the
diversity of cultures, social structures, belief systems, and languages
across societies and historical periods.
(iii)
Investigating processes of change and adaptation
Investigating how
societies and cultures change over time, adapt to new environments, and respond
to internal and external influences.
(iv)
Fostering empathy and challenging ethnocentrism
Fostering empathy
by engaging with diverse lifestyles and challenging ethnocentristic
assumptions, thus promoting intercultural understanding.
(v)
Applying anthropological knowledge to contemporary issues
Use
anthropological insights to address real-world problems such as health
disparities, inequality, cultural heritage preservation, and social justice.
(vi)
Holistic and comparative analysis
Use comparative
and cross-cultural studies to identify universal patterns and unique
characteristics of human societies.
(vii)
Contributing to interdisciplinary knowledge
Integrate
findings from a variety of disciplines (biology, history, linguistics,
sociology) to create a comprehensive picture of the human condition.
In short:-
The aim of
anthropology is to describe, analyze, and explain the full spectrum of human
life – biological, cultural, social, and linguistic – across all periods and
places. Through its broad scope and interdisciplinary methods, anthropology
seeks to understand both the diversity and unity of humankind, providing
valuable insights for academic knowledge and practical application in
addressing contemporary human challenges.
2. What is Archaeological Anthropology? Discuss its current
fields of study. 20
3. Discuss the methods of data collection in
Physical/Biological Anthropology. 20
4. Write short notes on any two of the following: 10+10
(a) Social
Anthropology
(b) Relationship
of Biological Anthropology with Health Science
(c) Excavation
Section-B
5. Discuss the growth of the growth of
Physical/Biological Anthropology. 20
Ans:- Physical or biological anthropology is a
dynamic branch of anthropology that focuses on biological aspects of human
races, tracing human origins, evolution and contemporary variations through
interdisciplinary approaches. Its evolution can be understood by examining its
historical development, expansion of sub-fields, methodological advancements
and its increasing relevance in contemporary research and society.
(i)
Historical Development:
(a) Early
Foundations: The roots of physical anthropology lie in the study of human
fossils, skeletal remains and comparative anatomy. The aim of early
anthropologists was to classify human races and trace evolutionary
relationships using morphological features.
(b) Shift
in Focus: Over time, the discipline moved beyond mere racial classification
to understanding human variation, adaptation and evolution in a broader
biological and ecological context.
(ii)
Expansion of subfields:
Physical/biological
anthropology has diversified into several subfields, reflecting its growth and
interdisciplinary nature:-
(a) Human
evolution: The study of fossil records to understand the origins and
evolutionary process of Homo sapiens and related species.
(b)
Primatology: The comparative study of humans and non-human primates to
examine evolutionary relationships and behavior patterns.
(c) Human
variation and genetics: Analysis of genetic variation, population genetics,
and the influence of evolutionary forces on human populations.
(d)
Physical anthropology: Investigation of human adaptability, physiological
functions, and responses to environmental stressors such as climate, altitude,
and nutrition.
(e)
Forensic anthropology: The application of physical anthropology in legal
contexts, especially for the identification of skeletal remains.
(f) Growth
and development: The study of physical growth patterns, secular trends, and
factors influencing human development across populations and time periods.
(iii)
Methodological advancements:
(a)
Traditional methods: Early research relied on morphological measurements
(somatometry, craniometry), comparative anatomy and descriptive observations.
(b) Modern
techniques: The field now includes advanced genetic analysis, molecular
biology, biostatistics, imaging techniques (CT, MRI) and computational
modelling, which increase the precision and scope of research.
(c)
Research methods: Contemporary research employs both laboratory and
field-based approaches, providing holistic insights by integrating data from
archaeology, genetics, physiology and ecology.
(iv)
Contemporary relevance and applications:
(a)
Understanding human diversity: Biological anthropology helps explain the
biological basis of human diversity, adaptation and susceptibility to diseases
in populations.
(b)
Addressing social issues: The discipline has contributed to debunking racial
myths and understanding the concept of race as a social construct rather than a
strictly biological category.
(c) Applied
research: Applications in forensic science, public health, ergonomics and
human rights investigations highlight the practical importance of this field.
(v)
Developments in India:
(a) Indian
context: In India, physical anthropology has played an important role in
studying ethnic diversity, demography and the influence of bio-cultural factors
on populations. Research on skeletal remains from archaeological sites such as
Harappa has provided insights into ancient social structures and population
dynamics.
(b) Academic
expansion: Indian universities and research institutes have established
dedicated departments and courses, reflecting the growing academic and research
interest in this field.
(vi)
Integration with other disciplines:
(a) Holistic
approach: Biological anthropology integrates findings from archaeology,
linguistics and socio-cultural anthropology, taking a holistic view of human
existence and evolution.
(b)
Comparative science: This discipline uses comparative methods to analyse
similarities and differences between human populations and primates,
contributing to generalisations about human biology and society.
Conclusion:-
The evolution
of physical/biological anthropology is marked by its development from
descriptive racial studies to a comprehensive, interdisciplinary science. Its
expansion into various subfields, adoption of modern research methods and
growing social relevance underline its importance in understanding the
biological and evolutionary dimensions of humanity.
6. Discuss the British and American schools of Anthropology.
20
7. Discuss the methods of data collection in Archaeological
Anthropology. 20
8. Write short notes on any two of the following: 10+10
(a) Post-colonial
and Critical period of Archaeological Anthropology with Archaeology
(b) Relationship
(c) Fieldwork
***
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