Definition
Bronisław Malinowski (1884-1942) was a Polish-British anthropologist considered one of the most important 20th-century anthropologists. He emphasized participant observation, where researchers immerse themselves in the culture they study. His work transformed how anthropologists conduct fieldwork. Think of it as method acting, but for understanding entire societies. He studied the Trobriand Islands in Melanesia extensively. His work highlighted the importance of understanding a culture from its own perspective, rather than imposing external biases.