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Tzotzil Maya Folkbiology: A Cultural Account of Difference
This proposal focuses on the interaction between culture, activity-related expertise,
values and its effect on the structure, content, and distribution of
folkbiological knowledge. The study community is the Tzotzil
Results will be compared with the data from the previous studies, thereby
allowing us to better assess the content and dimension of the processes
involved. For example, the research will address the question to what extent
the loss of “factual knowledge” about the environment correlates with a loss of
the respective religious knowledge. To assess the loss of factual knowledge
both a synchronic approach will be taken (intergenerational differences) as
well as a diachronic, comparing the stock of knowledge elicited with previous
findings by other authors. This research is a first step to explore the
intricate relation between the different knowledge, values and behavior within
the larger system of cultural processes. In order to achieve this, a clear
methodology is proposed, drawing of the strengths of both anthropology and
cognitive psychology.
The research is supported by NSF grant BCS 0216762 to Norbert Ross
Parts of this research are published in:
In: Ahn, et al. (eds.). Categorization inside and outside the classroom. APA monograph.
Ross, N. & Medin, D. (n.d.). Ethnography and Experiments: Cultural Models and Expertise effects elicited with experimental research
techniques. (Accepted provided some revisions). Field Methods.
Maya Plant taxonomy. Submitted: Field Methods.