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ANTH43415: Fieldwork and Interpretation

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Open
Level 4
Credits 15
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Anthropology

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To give students a comprehensive view of qualitative field methods used by social sciences, including the collection, management and interpretation of qualitative data.

Content

  • Relation of explanatory theories to methods of research.
  • Ethnography and participant observation.
  • Interviewing, such as semi-structured and ethnographic interviews, life history interviews.
  • Focus groups and participatory research methods, such as audio-visual methods.
  • Power relations and reflexivity in qualitative research.
  • Management and analysis of qualitative data.
  • Ethical issues in qualitative research.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • A comprehensive overview of qualitative field methods used by social scientists.
  • A thorough understanding of the ways in which social scientists interpret ethnographic and other qualitative data.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • To be able to use effectively a range of qualitative social research techniques, including ethnography and participant observation, individual and group-based interviews, and participatory research methods.
  • To be able to analyse and interpret qualitative data.
  • To understand the relationships between method and theory.
  • To appreciate some of the ethical issues inherent in qualitative social research

Key Skills:

  • Critical engagement with literature.
  • Written communication skills: producing a clear and well-argued research report.
  • Reflexivity: reflecting on own research practice.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures: to introduce each topic, present key literature and frame theoretical considerations.
  • Seminars: accompanying discussion/reflections.
  • Practical exercises: to give students hands-on experience of using each method with their peers.
  • Assessment via a reflexive portfolio of practical write-ups, incorporating theoretical as well as practical reflections.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures71 hour7 
Seminars 71 hour7 
Practical exercises51 hour5 
Preparation and Reading131 
Total150 

Summative Assessment

Component: CourseworkComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Portfolio: reflexive write-ups of practical classes. 3000 words100 

Formative Assessment

Portfolio assessment: reflexive write-up of one practical assignment (c. 500 words) with individual written feedback.

More information

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