Anthropology is the study of humans and the ways they live.

Sociology studies the

ways groups of people interact with each other and how their behavior is influenced
by social structures, categories (age, gender, sexuality), and institutions.

While both fields study human behavior, the debate between anthropology vs.
sociology is a matter of perspectives. Anthropology examines culture more at the
micro-level of the individual, which the anthropologist generally takes as an
example of the larger culture. In addition, anthropology hones in on the cultural
specificities of a given group or community. Sociology, on the other hand, tends to
look at the bigger picture, often studying institutions (educational, political,
religious), organizations, political movements, and the power relations of
different groups with each other.

Key Takeaways: Anthropology vs. Sociology

Anthropology studies human behavior more at the individual level, while sociology
focuses more on group behavior and relations with social structures and
institutions.
Anthropologists conduct research using ethnography (a qualitative research method),
while sociologists use both qualitative and quantitative methods.
The primary goal of anthropology is to understand human diversity and cultural
difference, while sociology is more solution-oriented with the goal of fixing
social problems through policy.
Definition of Anthropology
Anthropology studies human diversity. There are four primary sub-fields:
archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic
anthropology. Archaeology focuses on the objects humans have made (often thousands
of years ago). Biological anthropology examines the ways humans adapt to different
environments. Cultural anthropologists are interested in how humans live and make
sense of their surroundings, studying their folklore, cuisine, arts, and social
norms. Finally, linguistic anthropologists study the ways different cultures
communicate. The primary method of research anthropologists utilize is called
ethnography or participant observation, which involves in-depth, repeated
interactions with people.

A defining feature of anthropology that makes it unlike many other fields is that
many researchers study cultures that are not "their own." Thus, people pursuing
PhDs in anthropology are required to spend a lengthy period of time (often a year)
in a foreign country, in order to immerse themselves in a culture to become
knowledgeable enough to write about and analyze it.

Early in the field's history (the late 19th/early 20th centuries), anthropologists
were almost all Europeans or Americans who conducted research in what they
considered to be "primitive" societies that they believed were "untouched" by
western influence. Because of this mindset, the field has long been critiqued for
its colonialist, condescending attitude toward non-western people and its
inaccurate representations of their cultures; for example, early anthropologists
often wrote about African cultures as static and unchanging, which suggested that
Africans could never be modern and that their culture did not undergo change, as
western cultures do. In the late 20th century, anthropologists like James Clifford
and George Marcus addressed these misrepresentations, suggesting that ethnographers
be more aware of and upfront about the unequal power relations between themselves
and their research subjects.

Definition of Sociology
Sociology has several principal tenets: individuals belong to groups, which
influence their behavior; groups have characteristics independent of their members
(i.e., the whole is larger than the sum of its parts); and sociology focuses on
patterns of behavior among groups (as defined by gender, race, class, sexual
orientation, etc.). Sociological research falls into several large areas, including
globalization, race and ethnicity, consumption, family, social inequality,
demography, health, work, education, and religion.

While ethnography was initially associated with anthropology, many sociologists

also do ethnography, which is a qualitative research method. However, sociologists
tend to do more quantitative research—studying large data sets, like surveys—than
anthropologists. In addition, sociology is more concerned with hierarchical or
unequal power relations between groups of people and/or institutions. Sociologists
still tend to study "their own" societies—i.e., the U.S. and Europe—more than those
of non-western countries, although contemporary sociologists conduct research all
over the world.

Finally, an important distinction between anthropology and sociology is that the

former's goal is to understand human diversity and cultural differences, while the
latter is more solution-oriented with the goal of fixing social problems through
policy.

Careers
Anthropology majors pursue a wide variety of careers, as do sociology students.
Either of these degrees can lead to a career as a teacher, public sector employee,
or academic. Students who major in sociology often go on to work at non-profit or
governmental organizations and the degree can be a stepping stone to a career in
politics, public administration, or law. While the corporate sector is less common
for sociology majors, some anthropology students find work conducting market
research.

Graduate school is also a common trajectory for both anthropology and sociology
majors. Those who complete a PhD often have the goal of becoming professors and
teaching at the college level. However, jobs in academia are scarce, and over half
of people with a PhD in anthropology work outside of academia. Non-academic careers
for anthropologists include public sector research at large, global organizations
like the World Bank or UNESCO, at cultural institutions like the Smithsonian, or
working as freelance research consultants. Sociologists who have a PhD can work as
analysts in any number of public policy organizations, or as demographers, non-
profit administrators, or research consultants.