We focus in this course on cognitive anthropology and cultural domain analysis. CDA involves systematic interviewing to get lists of items that comprise a coherent cognitive domain. (Anything that can be listed is a domain: trees, kinds of music, things to do on vacation, rock singers, foods, medicinal plants, ...) The object is to understand how people--—as individuals and as groups—think about and organize the items in a domain.

The data collection methods include:

• Free lists
• Pile sorts
• Triad tests
• Paired comparisons
• Ratings
• Rankings

The data analysis methods include:

• Multidimensional scaling
• Hierarchical clustering
• PROFIT (property fitting)
• Guttman scaling
• Likert scaling
• Consensus analysis

The methods covered in this course are based on the analysis of profile matrices and similarity matrices. At the first meeting of class, we’ll discuss the theory behind these matrices and how they can be used in many different areas of research, including the analysis of qualitative data (like text and images). We meet each week in a computer lab to maximize hands-on experience.

In Week 2, the class chooses a cultural domain to analyze. Students pool their data and move through the data collection and analysis together. Grades are based on class participation (.25) and on the production of a lab book detailing the work of the worse (.75). Class participation means being prepared each week to discuss assigned readings and assignments involving data collection and analysis. The lab book tracks your work on cultural domain analysis.

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Week 1 - The history of cognitive anthropology

• D’Andrade, pp. 1-57
• .ppt slides: Anthropac
• .ppt slides: History of cognitive anthropology

Week 2 - Free lists

• D’Andrade, pp. 58-121
• Gatewood, J. B. 1984. Familiarity, vocabulary size, and recognition ability in four semantic domains. American Ethnologist 11:507–27.
• Gatewood, John B. 1983. Loose talk: Linguistic competence and recognition ability. American Anthropologist 85:378-387.
• Brewer, Devon D. 2002. Supplementary interviewing techniques to maximize output in free listing tasks. Field Methods 14:108-118.
• .ppt slides: Free Lists
  
  

Week 3 - Pile sorts

• D’Andrade pp. 122-181
• Roberts, J. M., T. V. Golder, and G. E. Chick. 1981. Judgment, oversight, and skill: A cultural analysis of P-3 pilot error. Human Organization 39:5–21.
• Similarity matrix from one pile sort
• .ppt slides: Pile Sorts

Week 4  - Triad tests

• D’Andrade pp. 181-243
• Boster, J. S., J. C. Johnson, and S. C. Weller. 1987. Social position and shared knowledge: Actors’ perceptions of status, role, and social structure. Social Networks 9:375–87.
• .ppt slides: Triad Sorts

Week 5 - Ratings, rankings and paired comparisons

• D'Andrade pp. 181-243
• Durrenberger, E. Paul 2003. Using paired comparisons to measure reciprocity. Field Methods 15:271-288.
• .ppt slides: Paired Comparisons

Week 6 - Multidimensional scaling

• Weller, S. C. 1983. New data on intracultural variability: The hot cold concept of medicine and illness. Human Organization 42:249–57.
• Chavez et al. 1995. Structure and meaning in models of breast and cervical cancer risk factors: A comparison of perceptions among Latinas, Anglo women, and physicians. Medical Anthropology Quarterly 9(1):40-74.
• .ppt slides: MDS and Cluster Analysis

Week 7 - February 22. No class

Week 8 - Cluster analysis

• Roberts, J. M., T. V. Golder, and G. E. Chick. 1981. Judgment, oversight, and skill: A cultural analysis of P-3 pilot error. Human Organization 39:5–21.
• Harkness, Sara and Charles M. Super 1983. The cultural construction of child development: A framework for the socialization of affect. Ethos 11:221-231.

Week 9 - Consensus analysis

• Romney, A. K., S. C. Weller, and W. H. Batchelder. 1986. Culture as consensus: A theory of culture and informant accuracy. American Anthropologist 88:313–38.
• Aunger, Robert.  1999.  Against Idealism / Contra Consensus.  Current Anthropology 40(suppl. February): S93-S101.
• Romney, A.K. 1999.  Cultural Consensus as a Statistical Model.  Current Anthropology 40(suppl. February): S103-S115.
• .ppt slides: Consensus Analysis

Week 10 - Spring break

Week 11 - Property Fitting (PROFIT) analysis

• Weller, S. C. 1983. New data on intracultural variability: The hot-cold concept of medicine and illness. Human Organization 42:249–57.
• Weller, Susan C. 1984. Cross-cultural concepts of illness: Variation and validation. American Anthropologist 86:341-351.
• .ppt slides: PROFIT

Week 12 - Quadratic assignment procedure (QAP)

• Garro, Linda C. 1986. Intracultural variation in folk medical knowledge: A comparison between curers and noncurers. American Anthropologist 88(2):351-370.
• Johnson, Jeffrey C., Edie Schade, and Susan C. Weller 1995. “Truth or dare?”: Sexual networks, friendship, and risk behavior in an informal gay group. Connections 18(1):72-87.
• .ppt slides: QAP

Week 13 - Extending the use of matrix methods

• Dressler, William W. 2001. Culture and individual adaptation. This is a research report from Dressler's work on cultural consonance.
• Nyamongo, Isaac 2002. Assessing intracultural variability statistically using data on malaria perceptions in Gusii , Kenya . Field Methods 14:148-160 .
• Johnson, Allen. Guttman scaling: An analysis of Matsigenka men's manufacturing skills. In: Using Methods in the Field. V.C. de Munck and Elisa Sobo, eds. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press.

Weeks 14-15 - Review, discussion, and lab work