Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Culture, Politica e Società

RESEARCH TOOLS AND METHODS IN SOCIO-CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY M-Z

Research Tools and Methods in Socio-cultural Anthropology M-Z

Anno accademico 2021/2022

• DOING RESEARCH AND FIELDWORK IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION (CPS0372)

Sommario insegnamento

• Obiettivi formativi
• Risultati dell'apprendimento attesi
• Modalità di insegnamento
• Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento
• Programma
• Testi consigliati e bibliografia
• Note
• Strumenti didattici

Obiettivi formativi

This course aims to stimulate the critically reflexive practice of ethnography; to this aim, it will operate on two interrelated dimensions: one focused on the theoretical approaches to ethnographic research, the other on training students in the application of specific research techniques. The twofold aim of this course is to provide students with deeper insight into the process by which anthropological knowledge is produced and to develop their skills with regard to the collection and analysis of ethnographic data.

Risultati dell'apprendimento attesi

By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:

1) identify and discuss research problems

2) select and apply appropriate research methods for ethnographic research

3) develop research strategies and write a research proposal

4) examine the ethical responsibilities of conducting ethnographic research

5) think critically about fieldwork, analysis and writing

Modalità di insegnamento

The course will be held in person, if Covid-19 related sanitary conditions will make it possible. Every lesson will be also streamed via the Webex platform to allow the attendance of
students who will not be able to reach the Campus.
All relevant information on the course will be available on the Moodle page of the course, as well as a forum for questions and answers. During the course articles and other materials will
be regularly uploaded on Moodle.

This course is designed partially as a workshop, so once a week, usually on Wednesdays, students will be expected to do a close reading of assigned texts and to lead the discussion about them. The course has a practical nature; as such, students will work in small groups and individually to apply what they learn during the course in exercising in small-scale ethnographic research and in writing an ethnographic project.

Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento

Attending students

Attending students are required to complete a group project during the semester, and a written exam during the Summer exam session (June-July, or September).

The written exam will be based on 4 chapters of the textbook by Hammersley, M. and Atkinson, P., Ethnography. Principles in Practice (2019, fourth edition; or 2007, third edition): chapter 3, 4, 5, 7). In addition, knowledge of the articles and chapters discussed in class and uploaded on Moodle will be tested.

The group project will be completed throughout the course Doing Research and Fieldwork in International Cooperation, and it will be run jointly with the module Qualitative Methods in Global South Studies. It consists of a research proposal written by groups of students that should reflect their ability to work as a team. Knowledge of theories and concepts discussed during the courses will be assessed, as well as the formal presentation of the project (e.g., Table of contents, Introduction, Background, Research objectives, Methodology, Outcomes, References). Although each student can contribute in a different way to the project, they will be evaluated as a group. 
The written report will be also presented orally in plenary by each group.

Non-attending students

Students will take a written examination based on the textbook by Hammersley, M. and Atkinson, P., Ethnography. Principles in Practice (2019, fourth edition; or 2007, third edition), and on three articles among those posted on Moodle. During the examination, students will be asked to answer three questions (10 points for each answer). In answering the questions, students should demonstrate a thorough and critical knowledge on the topic, of the themes and concepts explored in the textbook, as well as their ability to analyze, interpret and creatively discuss these concepts. 

THE FINAL EVALUATION OF THE COURSE DOING RESEARCH AND FIELDWORK IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION:

FOR NON ATTENDING STUDENTS: IT WILL CONSIST OF THE ARITHMETIC MEAN OF THE FINAL EVALUATION OF THE TWO MODULES QUALITATIVE METHODS IN GLOBAL SOUTH STUDIES AND RESEARCH TOOLS AND METHODS IN SOCIO-CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (WITH ROUNDING UP IF THE ARITHMETIC MEAN IS EQUAL TO .5).

FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS: IT WILL CONSIST OF THE ARITHMETIC MEAN OF THE FINAL EVALUATION OF THE TWO MODULES QUALITATIVE METHODS IN GLOBAL SOUTH STUDIES
AND RESEARCH TOOLS AND METHODS IN SOCIO-CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND OF THE EVALUATION OF GROUP WORK (COUNTING 1/3 EACH).

Programma

1. Anthropology and Ethnography
2. Participant Observation
3. Interviewing
4. Field notes
5. Research Design and Preparation
6. Ethics

Other course materials (textbooks, chapters and articles) will be proposed during the first lesson, uploaded on Moodle and discussed throughout the course.

Note

The course will start on Monday 21.2.2022. Please register on the Moodle course page before the start of the course! All the information, announcements and materials will be posted on the Moodle platform.

The course DOING RESEARCH AND FIELWORK IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION will
be divided into the following parts:
- 2 introductory weeks of "Qualitative Methods in GS studies"; 
- 6 weeks of "Research tools and methods in SC Anthropology";
- 4 final weeks of "Qualitative Methods in GS studies";

• Materiale didattico
• Bacheca appelli
• Vai a Moodle
• Visita i forum