Ace Anthropology 2026 – Unravel the Mysteries of Human History with This Fun Practice Test!

Survey research is characterized by its systematic approach to collecting data from a specific subset of a larger population, often through questionnaires or interviews designed to gather quantifiable information. This method allows researchers to analyze trends, preferences, and behaviors across a larger demographic, while maintaining a manageable scope that can be statistically significant.

In contrast, ethnography involves an in-depth exploration of social practices, cultural norms, and human behaviors within a particular community or group, often through participant observation and qualitative methods. Ethnographers typically immerse themselves within the community they study, allowing for a rich, nuanced understanding of cultural practices that surveys may not capture.

Thus, the focus of survey research on a subset of the population enables researchers to generalize findings about a larger population, distinguishing it from the detailed, context-rich insights provided by ethnography, which does not prioritize statistical generalization but rather individual experiences and cultural contexts.