What does an anthropology specialist do?

Anthropology is the study of human societies, cultures, and behaviors across time and space. An anthropology specialist is someone who applies this knowledge to solve real-world problems, such as designing products, improving services, or enhancing policies. In this article, you will learn what an anthropology specialist does, what skills and qualifications they need, and what types of projects they work on.

Key takeaways from this article

Conduct fieldwork:

Anthropology specialists dive into different environments to gather firsthand knowledge, which is crucial for understanding cultural nuances and social dynamics. This hands-on approach is key for crafting solutions that resonate on a human level.
Pursue tailored education:

Earning a degree with courses like fieldwork techniques and material culture equips you with the specific skills needed to excel as an anthropology specialist, ensuring you're well-prepared to explore and affect societal change.

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1 What are the main tasks of an anthropology specialist?

An anthropology specialist can be called upon to fulfill a range of tasks depending on the context and goals of their work. This could include conducting ethnographic research to gain insight into different groups of people, analyzing data to identify patterns, themes, and insights, creating reports or presentations to communicate findings and recommendations, collaborating with other disciplines to translate research into solutions that meet user and business objectives, and evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the solutions.

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Benard Omukuyia

A Student of Philosophy, harmoniously blending intellectual pursuits with tangible, compassionate societal contributions.
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Anthropologists investigate human societies to uncover the complexities of culture, history, language, and biology. They conduct fieldwork, analyse data, and document findings to contribute to academic literature and education. As custodians of heritage, they advocate for the protection of significant sites and inform policy. Their work extends to addressing current issues, offering insights into health, development, and social justice, thereby enhancing our understanding of humanity's role in today's world.

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BalaKrishnamurthy RAMARAJU

Gerontology UMass Boston USA
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An Anthropologist determines the Age of Fossils and Skeletal remains and determines whether they are human or not and if they are of human antiquity, to which species of humans Homo Erectus, Hominids, Neanderthal or Sapiens &C. - Dr Krishna Aathreya

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Farhan Malik

Oracle Consultant at Integration Xperts
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An anthropology specialist, commonly known as an anthropologist, engages in the scientific study of humanity and human societies. The role is broad and can encompass various aspects depending on the specific subfield of anthropology they specialize in.

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Kalki Mahavatar

AI Military Intelligence Specialist (Freelance)
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An anthropology specialist's role is multifaceted and can vary based on the objectives and context of their work. Their responsibilities may encompass carrying out ethnographic research to understand diverse populations, scrutinizing data to discern patterns, themes, and insights, and formulating reports or presentations to convey their findings and suggestions. They often work in tandem with other disciplines to convert research into solutions that align with the goals of users and businesses. Additionally, they assess the impact and efficacy of these solutions.

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William Rathouse

Heritage and mental health specialist, experienced lecturer and instructor
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There are several types of anthropologist: Cultural Anthropologists (US tradition) tend to study human societies. Social Anthropologists (British/European traditions) tend to focus on cultures. They have traditionally gathered qualitative data on overseas groups, while sociologists were mainly concerned with gathering quantitative data on the domestic working class. In the last few decades there has been increasing overlap between these two disciplines. Physical Anthropologists (for example Alice Roberts) study physical evidence of human evolution. Forensic Anthropologists (also known as forensic archaeologists) gather evidence for court cases

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2 What skills and qualifications do you need to become an anthropology specialist?

To become an anthropology specialist, you need a combination of academic, technical, and soft skills. A degree in anthropology or a related field, such as sociology, psychology, or human-computer interaction is essential. Additionally, you must possess a solid understanding of the theories, methods, and ethics of anthropology and how to apply them to various domains and contexts. It is also important to have a proficiency in qualitative and quantitative research techniques such as interviews, observations, surveys, or experiments. Furthermore, you need the ability to use various tools and software to collect, organize, analyze, and visualize data such as spreadsheets, databases, or coding languages. Creativity and critical thinking are also necessary to generate novel and relevant insights and solutions. Communication and collaboration skills are essential for working effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders. Finally, you must have curiosity and empathy to learn from and relate to different people and cultures.

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William Rathouse

Heritage and mental health specialist, experienced lecturer and instructor
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Training as a social anthropologist is usually undertaken at a university via a degree scheme. Typical elements in anthropological degree schemes would include: fieldwork techniques, professional ethics, material culture, religion and spirituality, the influence of language on and from culture, identity, dress, domestic cultures, conceptions of gender, history of anthropology Other types of anthropology would require different areas of training.

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Sourabh Mohanta

Success is not a full stop. It's a comma (,) to mark new experience and to add new goals in your life.
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Anthropologists and archeologists typically do the following: Plan cultural research. Customize data collection methods according to a particular region, specialty, or project. Collect information from observations, interviews, and documents. Record and manage records of observations taken in the field.

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3 What types of projects do anthropology specialists work on?

Anthropology specialists can work on a wide range of projects across different sectors and industries. From developing new products or services that meet customer needs to improving existing products and services, designing user interfaces, creating brand identities, developing policies or programs, and exploring social or cultural phenomena, anthropology specialists have a diverse range of responsibilities. They can work in consulting firms, research institutes, corporations, non-governmental organizations, or government agencies. Additionally, they may be able to work as freelancers or independent consultants. The salary and benefits of an anthropology specialist may vary depending on the location, experience, education, and type of employer. If you are interested in becoming an anthropology specialist, you can start by pursuing a degree in anthropology or a related field. You can also gain some relevant experience and build your portfolio and network by joining professional associations, attending events, or reading blogs and books about the field. Anthropology is a fascinating and rewarding field that can help you make a positive difference in the world.

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4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What does an anthropology specialist do?

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1 What are the main tasks of an anthropology specialist?

2 What skills and qualifications do you need to become an anthropology specialist?

3 What types of projects do anthropology specialists work on?

4 Here’s what else to consider

Consulting

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What does an anthropology specialist do?

1

2

3

4

1 What are the main tasks of an anthropology specialist?

2 What skills and qualifications do you need to become an anthropology specialist?

3 What types of projects do anthropology specialists work on?

4 Here’s what else to consider

Consulting

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