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Harmonizing Diversity: Tuning Anthropological Research to Complexity

Fischer, Michael D., Lyon, Stephen M., Sosna, Daniel, Henig, David (2013) Harmonizing Diversity: Tuning Anthropological Research to Complexity. Social Science Computer Review, 31 (1). pp. 3-15. ISSN 0894-4393. (doi:10.1177/0894439312455311) (KAR id:31540)

Abstract

The contributions in this issue of Social Science Computer Review represent a range of computational approaches to theoretical and disciplinary specializations in anthropology that reflect on and expand the future orientation and practice of the formal and comparative agenda in the context of an increasing emphasis on complexity in anthropology as a discipline. Themes covered in this issue include kinship, funerary burials, urban legends, eye tracking and looking at mode influences on online data collection. A common theme throughout the papers is examining the relationship between global emergent processes and structures and the local individual contributions to this emergence, and how the local and global contexts influence each other. We argue that unless complexity is addressed more overtly by leveraging computational approaches to data collection, analysis and theory building, anthropology and social science more generally face an existential challenge if they are to continue to pursue extended field research exercise, intersubjective productions, deep personal involvement, interaction with materiality and engagement with people whilst generating research outcomes of relevance to the world beyond the narrow confines of specialist journals and conferences.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/0894439312455311
Additional information: Published online September 24, 2012.
Uncontrolled keywords: complexity, kinship, social organisation, user experience, computational methods, burials,
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology
H Social Sciences > HA Statistics
Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming,
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Funders: Organisations -1 not found.
Organisations -1 not found.
Depositing User: Michael Fischer
Date Deposited: 11 Oct 2012 13:58 UTC
Last Modified: 08 Dec 2022 22:56 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/31540 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Fischer, Michael D..

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Henig, David.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6111-6523
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