Final answer:
Cultural anthropologists use participant observation to immerse themselves in a cultural community to understand its way of life, while cross-cultural comparison involves comparing multiple cultures to explore their differences and similarities.
Step-by-step explanation:
To study and interpret cultural diversity, and explain social and cultural similarities and differences, cultural anthropologists engage in two key types of activities: participant observation and cross-cultural comparison.
Participant observation is the basic research method in cultural anthropology. It involves spending a significant amount of time living with and observing a cultural community. Through this immersive method, anthropologists develop a deep understanding of 'the knowledge people use to live their lives and the ways in which they do so.' This method allows anthropologists to describe and explain a culture in ways that are accurate and appropriate.
Cross-cultural comparison, on the other hand, is based on comparing cultural differences and similarities across different societies. This method is crucial in understanding the diversity of human ways of life without making judgment calls about which is better or superior. By exploring a spectrum of cultures, anthropologists can document how various cultures devise different solutions to the challenges of human survival and social integration.