Reading Response: November 16, 2011

The benefits of EMIC perspectives is being able to understand why the people in a culture do certain things. It is also beneficial because you become completely submerge in the culture. The benefits of ETIC perspectives is observing people in their natural habitat. It is easier to just study the culture and compare it to other cultures this way.  Personally I believe EMIC perspective is better because you can understand why the people do certain things in the culture. It is important to acknowledge one's bias in one's research, because that person is used to doing things one way and the way other cultures do certain things can seem weird to outsiders. It is important to have an informant in a group because then it is easier to understand why things are the way they are in a culture. Its important to let the group know what you are studying and why so they don't think your a spy or intruder and try to kill you.