This book is about doing research, not about the results obtained. Those engaged on their first research may have had plenty of preparation about the techniques and results of prior research related to their proposed study, but may have limited knowledge of the actual strategies employed or pitfalls encountered by others who have conducted successful field and survey studies. In this book, a number of researchers with experience of working on problems including environmental stresses, population genetics, parasitic vectors and vital records describe obstacles encountered and successful strategies used in their own studies and in those of others. One learns to do research by trial and error, but accounts by experienced investigators can supplement what one learns from mentors and fellow students.
• Little other such material available • Eminent panel of contributors • Book about doing research, not about results; therefore of interest to others outside anthropology
Contents
List of boxes; List of contributors; Preface; 1. Planning a research project G. W. Lasker; 2. Research designs and sampling strategies C. G. N. Mascie-Taylor; 3. Biocultural studies of ethnic groups B. Bogin; 4. Migration M. A. Little and P. W. Leslie; 5. Collection of human population genetic data D. F. Roberts; 6. Nutritional studies in biological anthropology S. J. Ulijaszek and S. S. Strickland; 7. Historical demography and population structure J. H. Mielke and A. C. Swedlund; 8. Writing for publication G. W. Lasker; Index.
Review
'… makes an important contribution, and one that will benefit workers in other areas than human biology. It is likely to take a place alongside Howell's Surviving Fieldwork as required reading for field and survey workers. I will be recommending it as a suitable textbook.' N. G. Norgan, Annals of Human Biology
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