Intro to Biological Anthropology - Exam
1 Review Questions and Answers
Anthropology - Answer-the study of humans
4 fields of anthropology - Answer-biological, archaeology, linguistic, cultural
Physical anthropology - Answer-the study of humans from a biological perspective,
particularly focused on human evolution
Sociocultural anthropology - Answer-the study of human societies in a cross-cultural
perspective; focused on the living; ethnographies are used
Participant observation - Answer-a research method in which investigators
systematically observe people while joining them in their routine activities
Archaeology - Answer-the study of the past based on the material culture that people
left behind
Linguistic anthropology - Answer-the study of human language in the past and present
Applied anthropology - Answer-the application of anthropological data, perspectives,
theory, and methods to identify, assess, and solve contemporary social problems (i.e.
forensics)
Anthropology as a field of mediation - Answer-Anthropology can be used to show how
two completely different things can meet in the middle (individuals vs. group, colonial vs.
indigenous, past vs. present, humans vs. animals, etc.)
Ontological question - Answer-questions that can be asked
Epistemological question - Answer-questions that can be answered
Assumptions of science - Answer-- things are as they seem
- we can be wrong
- experts are smart, honest, and can be trusted
3 steps to normative science - Answer-1. make a hypothesis
2. collect data
3. explain
Hypothesis - Answer-a testable prediction about something in the real world; goal isn't
to be right
, Difference between a hypothesis and a theory - Answer-When one person thinks of an
idea, it is a hypothesis; when the entire scientific community agrees on an idea, it is a
theory
How to test a hypothesis about something that happened a long time ago: - Answer-
make a prediction about what happened
Proximate vs. ultimate causes - Answer-proximate is immediately responsible for
causing (how)
ultimate is the real reason as to why something happen (why)
Naturalism - Answer-drawing a distinction between nature and everything else
Parsimony - Answer-the simplest explanation is the best one
What did Plato say about essentialism? - Answer-there is an ideal form to every
organism and any variation is a flaw in the system
James Ussher (1581-1656) - Answer-Anglican Archbishop who calculated that Earth
was born in 4004 BC using the Bible
The Great Chain of Being - Answer-European idea that every species was a link on a
chain extending from lowest forms to humans and on to spiritual beings
Nicholaus Steno (1638-1686) - Answer-considered to be the father of geology after he
found a shark tooth; came up with the Law of Superposition
Law of Superposition - Answer-the geologic principle that states that in horizontal layers
of sedimentary rock, each layer is older than the layer above it and younger than the
layer below it
Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) - Answer-founder of taxonomy, the branch of biology
concerned with naming and classifying organisms; developed two part system of
naming organisms (binomial nomenclature); saw similarities between apes and humans
first
Comte de Buffon (1707-1788) - Answer-used the cooling of iron balls to re-date the
Earth to be at least 75,000 years old
Georges Cuvier (1769-1832) - Answer-first person to recognize that fossils were extinct
animals and believed this was due to catastrophism
Catastrophism - Answer-theory that states that natural disasters such as floods and
volcanic eruptions shaped Earth's landforms and caused extinction of some species
1 Review Questions and Answers
Anthropology - Answer-the study of humans
4 fields of anthropology - Answer-biological, archaeology, linguistic, cultural
Physical anthropology - Answer-the study of humans from a biological perspective,
particularly focused on human evolution
Sociocultural anthropology - Answer-the study of human societies in a cross-cultural
perspective; focused on the living; ethnographies are used
Participant observation - Answer-a research method in which investigators
systematically observe people while joining them in their routine activities
Archaeology - Answer-the study of the past based on the material culture that people
left behind
Linguistic anthropology - Answer-the study of human language in the past and present
Applied anthropology - Answer-the application of anthropological data, perspectives,
theory, and methods to identify, assess, and solve contemporary social problems (i.e.
forensics)
Anthropology as a field of mediation - Answer-Anthropology can be used to show how
two completely different things can meet in the middle (individuals vs. group, colonial vs.
indigenous, past vs. present, humans vs. animals, etc.)
Ontological question - Answer-questions that can be asked
Epistemological question - Answer-questions that can be answered
Assumptions of science - Answer-- things are as they seem
- we can be wrong
- experts are smart, honest, and can be trusted
3 steps to normative science - Answer-1. make a hypothesis
2. collect data
3. explain
Hypothesis - Answer-a testable prediction about something in the real world; goal isn't
to be right
, Difference between a hypothesis and a theory - Answer-When one person thinks of an
idea, it is a hypothesis; when the entire scientific community agrees on an idea, it is a
theory
How to test a hypothesis about something that happened a long time ago: - Answer-
make a prediction about what happened
Proximate vs. ultimate causes - Answer-proximate is immediately responsible for
causing (how)
ultimate is the real reason as to why something happen (why)
Naturalism - Answer-drawing a distinction between nature and everything else
Parsimony - Answer-the simplest explanation is the best one
What did Plato say about essentialism? - Answer-there is an ideal form to every
organism and any variation is a flaw in the system
James Ussher (1581-1656) - Answer-Anglican Archbishop who calculated that Earth
was born in 4004 BC using the Bible
The Great Chain of Being - Answer-European idea that every species was a link on a
chain extending from lowest forms to humans and on to spiritual beings
Nicholaus Steno (1638-1686) - Answer-considered to be the father of geology after he
found a shark tooth; came up with the Law of Superposition
Law of Superposition - Answer-the geologic principle that states that in horizontal layers
of sedimentary rock, each layer is older than the layer above it and younger than the
layer below it
Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) - Answer-founder of taxonomy, the branch of biology
concerned with naming and classifying organisms; developed two part system of
naming organisms (binomial nomenclature); saw similarities between apes and humans
first
Comte de Buffon (1707-1788) - Answer-used the cooling of iron balls to re-date the
Earth to be at least 75,000 years old
Georges Cuvier (1769-1832) - Answer-first person to recognize that fossils were extinct
animals and believed this was due to catastrophism
Catastrophism - Answer-theory that states that natural disasters such as floods and
volcanic eruptions shaped Earth's landforms and caused extinction of some species
