Final answer:
Anthropology is the field that studies human cultures through active participation and observation, known as participant observation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anthropology is the study of human cultures in the present through participation, observation, and interview of living people. This branch of study emphasizes understanding cultural values, norms, and behaviors by immersing oneself in a society, often through a method known as participant observation. Researchers gather information by becoming actively involved in the daily life of the community they are studying, thus gaining an insider's perspective. In fields such as medical anthropology, this approach extends to observing and participating in a culture's health systems and practices, providing deep insights into the human condition from a cultural standpoint.