| The objective of this dissertation is to deal with a number of current research issues that span social/cultural, biological and linguistic Anthropology, using for the purpose an innovative methodological framework. That framework is fuzzy set theory, a mathematical formalism for dealing with imprecision. Although fuzzy set theory, sometimes identified as "possibility theory", as been applied to such areas as control systems, artificial intelligence, pattern recognition and expert systems, its application to the social sciences has been fairly limited. This paper explores the potential power of fuzzy sets to deal with the imprecision characteristic of anthropology.;The major portion of this work consists of four applications of the theory of fuzzy sets to current research issues representative of the four conventional subdisciplines of the field of Anthropology: Physical, Cultural, Linguistics and Archaeology. These four applications are focused at four levels: quantitative analysis, research tool development, analytic framework and theoretical tool. Fuzzy set theory provides the basis for quantitative analysis of archaeological materials, specifically, artifacts from the Modoc Rock Shelter in Illinois. The use of fuzzy sets as a research tool to build a cross species primate behavior pattern recognition system illustrates its applicability to Physical Anthropology. Applying a fuzzy systems analytical framework to the water supply usage decision processes in Peruvian villages is an instance of its utility in a problem of Cultural Anthropology. Finally, fuzzy sets as a theoretical framework for the analysis of variations in the sign language of a group of Providence Island signers exemplifies its use in an area of Linguistic Anthropology.;Introductory chapters provide an outline of fuzzy set theory and a review of its application to related Social Sciences. The final chapter is devoted to potentials and directions for the application of this methodological framework. |
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