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ANTH46930: Fieldwork, Interpretation and Representation

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Type	Open
Level	4
Credits	30
Availability	Not available in 2024/2025
Module Cap	None.
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 (semi-structured interviews, guided conversations, life history interviews).
Focus groups and other group-based research techniques.
Participatory methods (e.g. participatory mapping, ranking, etc.).
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

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

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total	Monitored
Workshops	9	4-5 per term	2 hours	18	Yes
Lectures	9	4-5 per term	1 hour	9
Preparation and Reading				273
Total				300

Summative Assessment

Component: Coursework		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Portfolio: reflexive write-ups of practical classes.	c. 5000 words	100

Formative Assessment

Portfolio segment: reflexive write-up of one practical assignment (c. 1000 words) with individual written feedback.

More information

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