ABSTRACT
Development anthropology is scientific research on the social setting of development projects. "Its objective is to enhance benefits and mitigate negative consequences for the human communities involved in and affected by development efforts". This chapter presents an approach to social impact assessment for Third World development projects that is representative of the thinking of the majority of development anthropologists. The project cycle involves three stages: design, implementation, and completion. In the design phase the development anthropologist should bring human factors into the planning of the project. The development anthropologist engages in three major sets of activities in bringing the human factors into project design: assembling background data; field research; and report production. The anthropologist makes informal contributions to the shaping and design of the project and the report is his formal contribution. On the whole development projects are initiated to provide badly needed training, technology, or services in the hopes of improving the productivity and well being of poor peoples.
