Teaching and Learning Anthropology

Participatory methods in cultural anthropology continue to gain popularity. These methods respect community values and promote empowerment and co-creation, enhancing the ethicality and relevance of research findings. Despite their advantages, formal training in participatory methods is limited in anthropology programs, often leaving anthropologists to learn through trial and error with community partners. This article provides an overview of commonly used participatory methods and examines the state of training in these methods using survey and focus group data from PhD students and faculty from the United States. We analyze student and instructor experiences and challenges teaching and learning these methods. The paper concludes with recommendations for improving curricula and training to better equip anthropologists for collaborative research.