The search strategy through which the emphasis is on the anthropologist's rather than the local's interpretations and explanations of culture.
The perspective of an outsider for a given cultural phenomenon (Warren [1997]).
the point of view of a cultural outsider such as a scholar or tourist.
Research observations and data constructed in the researcher's system of categories and definitions. For example, if we collect data using a scientific definition of xerophthalmia, these data would be considered etic.
categories referring to the classification of things according to some external system of analysis brought in by a visitor to another society. This is the approach of biology in using the Linnaean classification system to define new species. It assumes that ultimately, there is an objective reality and that is more important than cultural perceptions of it. See emic categories.
etic is used in anthropology to refer to the perspective of the observer (outsider) and her world view.
