ANTHRO 202: Cultural Anthropology Beverly Bennett. Program Improvement

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1 ANTHRO 202: Cultural Anthropology Beverly Bennett Department Objective: Reason theoretically: Analyze, question, and internalize social scientific theory, leading to critical and generative thinking. Actively explore change and continuity within individuals, cultures, and societies, and apply these theories to social life. Department Learning Outcome: 1. Explain how various social science theories and approaches help to understand social phenomena. Specific Theory/Approach: Anthropology's holistic perspective Assessment Mechanisms Assessment Results Program Improvement Fall 2012 data Spring 2013 data Syllabus Quiz: What is the holistic perspective in anthropology, and why is it valuable? No disaggregated data on this question, although overall quiz grades good No disaggregated data on this question, although overall quiz grades good Collect disaggregated data on this Exam 1 (of 3): 11. Anthropologists doing fieldwork will typically involve themselves in numerous aspects of the culture being studied, not just focus on one aspect. This approach is called the perspective. a.ethnological b.sociological c.comparative d.holistic e.culture-bound O8 n=19 K8 n=24 P8 n= % correct in O in K in P8 I8 n=31 K8 n=27 P8 n= % correct in I8 75 in K in P8 See Analysis section below.

2 19. Culture is an integrated and interrelated whole. This means that a. People of all different races and ethnicities get along well together. b. Subcultural variations can be tolerated. c. If you alter one aspect of a culture, that may drastically affect and possibly even endanger the functioning of the society. d. Primitive people live in harmony and do not undergo any changes. 42.1% correct in O8 75 in K in P8 61.3% in I8 50 in K8 50 in P8 24. Examining all aspects of a culture is typical of the perspective of anthropology. a. circumstantial b. completion c. domain-oriented d. holistic 91.7 in K8 100% in I in K8 100 in In efforts to improve people's quality of life, anthropology is especially valuable because it a. includes specialized knowledge of biological measurement tools for evaluating quality of life b. examines situations in their broader c. can define situations from an outsider's point of view d. typically provides detailed statistical analyses of relevant information 47.4% correct in O in K in P8 45.2% in I in K in P8

3 28, It is important for an anthropologist to acquire an overall understanding of the culture being studied. True / False 100% in K8 100% in P8 90.3% in I8 100 in K8 29. It is typical of anthropologists to a. look at facts within their larger b. emphasize the differences between advanced and primitive cultures c. work to prove that the people they study have better moral values than others d. place great importance on what outsiders think of a culture 63.2% in O in K in P8 61.3% in I in K in P8 Exam 2 (of 3): 13. One important lesson of anthropology is the importance of the connections among different aspects of life. True / False O8 n=15 K8 n=25 P8 n= in K8 Short Essay Question: Describe at least 3 characteristics of applied anthropology that make it valuable for practical purposes. [Expected most to include the holistic perspective.] Used this question only in O8: 11 of 19 students selected this as one of 3 questions to answer out of 5 available. 1 of the 11 included the holistic perspective.

4 Exam 3, Part 1 In efforts to improve people's quality of life, anthropology is especially valuable because it a. includes specialized knowledge of biological measurement tools for evaluating quality of life b. examines situations in their broader c. can define situations from an outsider's point of view d. typically provides detailed statistical analyses of relevant information O8 n=19 K8 n=23 P8 n= % correct in O in K in P8 It is important for an anthropologist to acquire an overall understanding of the culture being studied. True False 94.7% correct in O8 100% in K8 100% in P8 It is typical of anthropologists to a. look at facts within their larger b. emphasize the differences between advanced and primitive cultures c. work to prove that the people they study have better moral values than others d. place great importance on what outsiders think of a culture 63.2% correct in O in K in P8

5 Analysis: Students do well when questions address the holistic perspective using the words they are most familiar with. But too many have difficulty in perceiving its relevance where issues are phrased differently, or where they are asked to actually apply the ideas. As the Spring 2013 semester has advanced, I have increased my attention to this topic, including not only more repetition but also, especially, more examples of real ways in which the holistic approach is useful. These include practical uses as well as uses of the approach in terms of comprehension and understanding. Chart adapted from American Sociological Association Task Force on Assessing the Undergraduate Sociology Major Creating an Effective Assessment Plan for the Sociology Major. Washington, D.C.: American Sociological Association.