Anthropology (ANTH) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The term for an expert on a particular aspect of local life is "key cultural consultant." This refers to individuals within a community who possess extensive knowledge about specific cultural practices, beliefs, and social dynamics. They serve as vital resources for anthropologists and researchers, providing invaluable insights that are crucial for understanding the nuances of the local culture.

Key cultural consultants are usually well-respected members of their communities and can provide detailed and rich information that may not be accessible through more general research methods or by engaging with the broader population. Their expertise often helps researchers navigate complex social structures, enabling a deeper comprehension of cultural contexts.

The other terms mentioned do not accurately define someone with expert knowledge in this way. For instance, a "biased informant" suggests a person whose opinions may be skewed or subjective, limiting their reliability as sources of objective information. An "etic informant" describes an outsider's perspective on a culture, often lacking the depth of understanding that a key cultural consultant would have. Lastly, a "representative sample" refers to a subset of a population that accurately reflects the characteristics of the whole, and does not pertain to individual expertise.