Anthropologist
Other Titles
Applied Anthropologist, Applied Cultural Anthropologist, Evaluation Specialist, Forensic Anthropologist, Medical Anthropology Director, Project Evaluator, Research Anthropologist, Research Associate, Research Director
Research or study the origins and physical, social, and cultural development and behavior of humans and the cultures and organisations they have created.
Anthropologists study and research various aspects of human history and origins. In doing so, they may focus on a particular sub-field of anthropology such as linguistics, archaeology, biology or culture. In this role, they gather relevant data from multiple sources and then analyse this data to compare the features of different social groups. They also analyse historical data and findings to reach conclusions regarding human communities. A part of their job is to publish the findings of their research. They may also advise government entities and other organizations on matter of public policy by using the relevant anthropological findings.
Study objects and structures recovered by excavation to identify, date, and authenticate them and to interpret their significance.
Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
Research, survey, or assess sites of past societies and cultures in search of answers to specific research questions.
Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
Describe artifacts' physical properties or attributes, such as the materials from which artifacts are made and their size, shape, function, and decoration.
Plan and direct research to characterize and compare the economic, demographic, health care, social, political, linguistic, and religious institutions of distinct cultural groups, communities, and organizations.
Compare findings from one site with archeological data from other sites to find similarities or differences.
Record the exact locations and conditions of artifacts uncovered in diggings or surveys, using drawings and photographs as necessary.
Assess archeological sites for resource management, development, or conservation purposes and recommend methods for site protection.
Gather and analyze artifacts and skeletal remains to increase knowledge of ancient cultures.
Collect artifacts made of stone, bone, metal, and other materials, placing them in bags and marking them to show where they were found.
Identify culturally specific beliefs and practices affecting health status and access to services for distinct populations and communities, in collaboration with medical and public health officials.
Consult site reports, existing artifacts, and topographic maps to identify archeological sites.
Train others in the application of ethnographic research methods to solve problems in organizational effectiveness, communications, technology development, policy making, and program planning.
Advise government agencies, private organizations, and communities regarding proposed programs, plans, and policies and their potential impacts on cultural institutions, organizations, and communities.
Create data records for use in describing and analyzing social patterns and processes, using photography, videography, and audio recordings.
Develop intervention procedures, using techniques such as individual and focus group interviews, consultations, and participant observation of social interaction.
Develop and test theories concerning the origin and development of past cultures.
Lead field training sites and train field staff, students, and volunteers in excavation methods.
Collaborate with economic development planners to decide on the implementation of proposed development policies, plans, and programs based on culturally institutionalized barriers and facilitating circumstances.
Clean, restore, and preserve artifacts.
Conduct participatory action research in communities and organizations to assess how work is done and to design work systems, technologies, and environments.
Organize public exhibits and displays to promote public awareness of diverse and distinctive cultural traditions.
Formulate general rules that describe and predict the development and behavior of cultures and social institutions.
Study archival collections of primary historical sources to help explain the origins and development of cultural patterns.
Apply traditional ecological knowledge and assessments of culturally distinctive land and resource management institutions to assist in the resolution of conflicts over habitat protection and resource enhancement.
Enhance the cultural sensitivity of elementary and secondary curricula and classroom interactions in collaboration with educators and teachers.
Participate in forensic activities, such as tooth and bone structure identification, in conjunction with police departments and pathologists.
Teach or mentor undergraduate and graduate students in athropology or archeology.
Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research.
Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Science — Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Learning Strategies — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Instructing — Teaching others how to do something.
Systems Analysis — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Systems Evaluation — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.
Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Conduct anthropological or archaeological research.
Collect information from people through observation, interviews, or surveys.
Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Evaluate characteristics of archival or historical objects.
Direct scientific activities.
Plan social sciences research.
Advise others about environmental management or conservation.
Inspect condition of natural environments.
Record research or operational data.
Collect biological specimens.
Mark materials or objects for identification.
Package materials or products.
Conduct research on social issues.
Collect archival data.
Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.
Advise others on matters of public policy.
Design psychological or educational treatment procedures or programs.
Document events or evidence, using photographic or audiovisual equipment.
Collaborate with technical specialists to resolve design or development problems.
Communicate with government agencies.
Clean objects.
Conduct scientific research of organizational behavior or processes.
Plan community programs or activities for the general public.
Develop theories or models of social phenomena.
Conduct historical research.
Apply knowledge or research findings to address environmental problems.
Advise others on educational matters.
Analyze forensic evidence to solve crimes.
Instruct college students in social sciences or humanities disciplines.
Write grant proposals.
Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Flexibility of Closure — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Far Vision — The ability to see details at a distance.
Mathematical Reasoning — The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Speed of Closure — The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Sociology and Anthropology — Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
History and Archeology — Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the language -- English, French, Swahili et cetera -- including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Geography — Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Multiple Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Analytical or scientific software -- Age progression software; Data visualization software; SAS; IBM SPSS Statistics; Insightful S-PLUS; The MathWorks MATLAB; Wolfram Research Mathematica
Computer aided design CAD software -- e.g., Autodesk AutoCAD
Database user interface and query software -- e.g., Genealogy software; Microsoft Access; Structured query language SQL
Desktop publishing software -- e.g., Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign ; Adobe Systems Adobe PageMaker
Development environment software -- Software development tools
Document management software -- e.g., Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
Electronic mail software -- e.g., Microsoft Outlook
Graphics or photo imaging software -- e.g., Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator; Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop; GE Healthcare ImageQuant TL; Image enhancement software
Internet browser software -- e.g., Microsoft Edge; Mozilla Firefox; Google Chrome
Map creation software -- Geographic information system GIS software; Orbital Africa; ESRI ArcGIS software; Maptitude Mapping Software; Golden Software Surfer; Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
Object or component oriented development software -- e.g., C++
Office suite software -- e.g., Corel WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office
Operating system software -- e.g., Microsoft Windows
Presentation software -- e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint
Project management software -- e.g., Confluence; Sapama Projects; Sciforma PPM solution; Xero Projects; Microsoft Project; Easy Projects; Microsoft SharePoint; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Quattro Pro; Microsoft Excel
Video creation and editing software -- e.g., Apple Final Cut Express; Apple iMovie; Microsoft Windows Movie Maker; Sony Creative Software Movie Studio
Voice recognition software -- Voice activated software
Web page creation and editing software -- e.g., Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver; Microsoft FrontPage
Word processing software -- e.g., Corel Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; Google Docs
All terrain vehicles tracked or wheeled — Four wheel drive 4WD vehicles
Augers — Bucket augers
Benchtop centrifuges — Countertop centrifuges
Binocular light compound microscopes — Laboratory binocular microscopes; Oil immersion microscopes
Calipers — Mandibulometers; Sliding calipers; Spreading calipers
Chemiluminescence or bioluminescence analyzers — Luminescence readers
Deoxyribonucleic sequence analyzers — Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA analyzers; Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequencers
Desktop computers
Developing tanks — Film processors
Dictation machines — Transcription equipment
Digital camcorders or video cameras — Digital video cameras
Digital cameras
Digital voice recorders — Digital audio recorders
Dropping pipettes — Laboratory dropping pipettes
Electron microscopes
Electronic toploading balances — Electronic topload scales
Fume hoods or cupboards — Laboratory fume hoods
Gel boxes — Gel electrophoresis boxes
General purpose refrigerators or refrigerator freezers — Laboratory refrigerators
Global positioning system GPS receiver — Global positioning system GPS receivers
Heating or drying equipment or accessories — Laboratory vacuum dryers
High pressure liquid chromatograph chromatography — High pressure liquid chromatograph HPLC equipment
Ion selective electrode ISE meters — Selective ion meters
Isolation glove boxes — Laboratory glove boxes
Laboratory balances
Laboratory mixers — Thermomixers
Laboratory sifting equipment — Graded sieves
Masks or accessories — Dust masks
Metallurgical microscopes
Microcentrifuges
Microphones — External lavalier microphones
Microplate readers — Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA plate readers
Notebook computers — Laptop computers
PCR enclosures — Polymerase chain reaction PCR hoods
Personal computers
pH meters — pH indicators
Plotter printers — Plotters
Polarizing microscopes — Petrographic microscopes
Power saws — Precision saws; Thin section saws
Protective gloves
Radarbased surveillance systems — Ground penetrating radar GPR; Remote sensing equipment
Robotic or automated liquid handling systems — Liquid handling robots
Scanners — Digitizers; Flatbed scanners; Laser scanners; Slide scanners
Shovels
Spectrofluorimeters or fluorimeters — Fluorometers
Spectrometers — Portable gamma spectrometers
Spectrophotometers
Steam autoclaves or sterilizers — Steam autoclaves
Stirring hotplates — Hot stir plates
Tablet computers
Temperature cycling chambers or thermal cyclers — Polymerase chain reaction PCR thermocyclers; Thermal cyclers
Theodolites — Total stations
Thermostats — Immersion thermostats
Transilluminators — Ultraviolet UV transilluminators
Trowels — Marshalltown trowels
Ultra pure water systems — Laboratory water purification systems
Ultracentrifuges
Ultraviolet crosslinkers — Ultraviolet UV crosslinkers
Vacuum ovens — Laboratory vacuum ovens
X ray radiography examination equipment — High resolution industrial computed tomography CT scanners; Industrial micro computed tomography CT scanners; Portable x ray machines; X ray cabinets
Investigative→ Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Artistic→ Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Independence→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Achievement→ Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Relationships→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.