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 2022/2023

• 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. Classes will not be streamed.

All relevant information on the course is available here and on the Moodle page of the course, where there is also a forum for questions and answers. All compulasory articles and other materials are already 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 lead the discussion.

The course has a practical nature; as such, students will work, both in small groups and individually, to apply what they learn during the course. In particular, this applied study concerns small-scale ethnographic research and writing an ethnographic project.

Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento

Attending students

1. The first assignment is the Group Work needed to produce the proposal for a research project (≈ 6000 words, DEADLINE: May 25th). This work will be evaluated jointly with the module Qualitative Methods in Global South Studies. It consists of six sections (1. Contextualisation of the research project, 2. Ethics, 3. Ethnographic methods, 4. Literature review, 5. Research questions, and 6. Methodology). We will dedicate one full class to discussing each research project. You must send a draft of sections 1, 2, and 3 to Prof. Maggio by March 22nd and a draft of sections 4, 5, and 6 to Prof Minoia by May 15th . Although each student can contribute in a different way to the project, you will be evaluated as a group.

2. The second assignment is the examination of Research Tools and Methods in Socio-Cultural Anthropology.
3. The third assignment is the examination of Qualitative methods in GSS.

The final mark consists of the arithmetic mean of the three assignments.

Non-attending students

Non-attending 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 of 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 mark consists of the arithmetic mean of the two marks for 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).

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 take place from Monday to Wednesday in Room D1 Primo Levi (Campus, first floor) from 2 to 4 pm, starting on Feb. 20th. 

All students are requested to register on the Moodle course page before the start of the course, since all information and materials will be posted on that platform.

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