Final answer:
The statement is true - an anthropologist's primary obligation is to the subjects they study. This commitment encompasses ethical considerations and a responsibility to represent and advocate for the subjects in a respectful and accurate manner.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed here is whether the anthropologist's primary obligation is to the people, species, or materials they study, regardless of their employers. The statement given as a choice is true (A.True).
Anthropologists have a fundamental responsibility to the communities and subjects they research. This commitment is intrinsic to the discipline, prioritizing the dignity and welfare of the subjects above the anthropologist's own interests or those of their employing institutions. The accumulative knowledge from the study of anthropology suggests that understanding cultures requires a holistic approach, necessitating sensitivity to the interdependence of humans and nature and considering the impact of such studies on the communities involved.
Earlier practices where anthropologists financially benefited from the communities they studied by selling cultural objects to museums are now deemed unethical. The paradigm has shifted to ensure anthropologists are accountable to the people they study, often involving advocacy and a balancing of power dynamics, particularly with regard to postcolonial societies.
In contemporary anthropology, there's an emphasis on examining cultures as complex products of their environment and history and presenting these findings in a responsible manner. This might involve working as public anthropologists, ensuring research and its outcomes are communicated effectively and ethically to both the subjects of study and the wider public.