Читать книгу A Companion to Medical Anthropology - Группа авторов - Страница 48

There is a crucial relationship between theory and methods in all of the social sciences. In applied medical anthropology, the theory–methods connection is primarily associated with testable midrange theory, rather than with the broader grand anthropological theory discussed above. Applied ethnographic methods are the primary levers by which medical anthropologists justify moving the world a little closer to where it ought to be. The theory provides a framework for understanding and praxis, while the methods provide a transparent and defensible process for linking theory with reality. This linkage also helps address the question of “whose vision of” ‘ought to be’ is one that is finally implemented, ranging from top down research on public health issues to fully implemented community based participatory designs. With the possible exception of the “constant comparative method” most applied medical anthropology methods are direct decedents of focused ethnographic midrange theories with links back to grand theory.