Which anthropologist is known for rigorous fieldwork methods including participant observation?

The anthropologist recognized for rigorous fieldwork methods, particularly participant observation, is Malinowski. He is often credited as one of the founding figures of social anthropology and emphasized the importance of immersing oneself in the daily lives of the subjects of study to gain a deeper understanding of their culture and social interactions. Malinowski's approach involved living among the people he studied, which allowed him to gather firsthand insights and experiences, rather than solely relying on secondhand accounts or theoretical frameworks. This methodological innovation laid the groundwork for ethnographic approaches that prioritize participant observation as a means of studying societies in context, contributing significantly to the development of anthropological research techniques.

Margaret Mead, while also well-known for her fieldwork, particularly in the South Pacific, often employed different approaches that included more focus on cultural comparison. Weber's work, primarily in sociology, did not center on fieldwork methods typical in anthropology. Levy-Bruhl is known for his theories on the primitive mind but did not engage in fieldwork in the same participant-observation manner as Malinowski. Hence, Malinowski remains the pivotal figure associated with the methodological rigor of participant observation in anthropology.