Applied anthropology

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Applied anthropology refers to the application of method and theory in anthropology to the analysis and solution of practical problems. Inasmuch as anthropology proper comprises four sub-disciplines -- biological, cultural, linguistic, and archaeological anthropology -- the practical application of any of these sub-disciplines may properly be designated "applied anthropology". Indeed, some practical problems may invoke all sub-disciplines. For example, a Native American community development program may involve archaeological research to determine legitimacy of water rights claims, ethnography may involve assessing the current and recent historical cultural characteristics of the community, linguistics may be applied to restoring language competence, and biological, or more specifically "medical" anthropology may be applied to determine the factors contributing to dietary deficiency diseases, etc.

Some regard applied anthropology to be a fifth sub-discipline of anthropology that applies anthropological data, perspectives, theory, and methods to identify, assess and solve contemporary social problems.

Applied anthropologists often work for nonacademic clients such as governments, development agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), tribal and ethnic associations, interest groups, social-service and educational agencies, and businesses. Ethnography and participant observation are the applied anthropologist's primary research tools. They also use textual analysis, survey research and other empirical methods to inform policy or to market products. An applied anthropologist is often likely to be employed in a non-academic setting.

This is a contrast to more academic sociocultural anthropology, which may be more concerned with creating theoretical models which correspond to its units of analysis, e.g. social inequality, performance, exchange, meaning, and so forth. Sometimes the research that falls within the applied field is referred to as "applied" in contrast to academic research, which is referred to as "basic." Business anthropology is an example of "applied" anthropology.

Examples of questions that an applied anthropologist would attempt to solve might be:

If an American buys diapers at 2AM on a Saturday in a grocery store, what is likely to be his/her next purchase?
How can public health authorities promote condom use amongst members of a particular subculture?
What measures could be taken to make sponge diving safer for Greek sponge divers?
Why do people migrate to XYZ place or from PQR place?

The premiere journal in the US of applied anthropology is Human Organization published by the Society for Applied Anthropology.

Under the directorship of the RAI, Jonathan Benthall, author of The Best of Anthropology Today, created the annual The Lucy Mair Medal of Applied Anthropology. This recognizes excellence in using anthropology "for the relief of poverty or distress, or for the active recognition of human dignity."