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ANTH2131: Anthropology Field Course

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Tied
Level 2
Credits 20
Availability Not available in 2024/2025
Module Cap None
Location Durham
Department Anthropology

Prerequisites

  • Doing Anthropological Research (ANTH1101). For LL36, LF64 and CFG0 students only, Doing Anthropological Research (ANTH1101) can be taken as a co-requisite rather than a prequisite module.

Corequisites

  • For LL36, LF64 and CFG0 students only Doing Anthropological Research (ANTH1101) can be taken as a co-requisite module instead of as a pre-requisite.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To give students practical experience of quantitative and qualitative anthropological methods including the collection, management and interpretation of data, through direct application of these methods during fieldwork.

Content

  • Practical experience of field research methods in anthropology.
  • Use of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods in anthropological fieldwork.
  • Management and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data.
  • Analysis and reflection on ethical issues in qualitative and quantitative anthropological research.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • An appreciation of the appropriateness of different fieldwork research methods to specific lines of anthropological enquiry.
  • Understand the relationships between anthropological method and theory.
  • Appreciate some of the ethical issues inherent in anthropological enquiry.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Engage in an anthropological study using a range of appropriate fieldwork techniques.
  • Analyse and interpret anthropological fieldwork data.
  • A comprehensive overview and thorough grounding in the use of anthropological field methods.
  • A thorough understanding of the ways in which anthropologists collect and interpret field data.

Key Skills:

  • Understand the process of fieldwork and how to draw on an appropriate range of methods.
  • Work with others in collaborative activities.
  • Maintain and present a detailed record of research through verbal presentations and writing.
  • Apply ethical guidelines in research.

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

  • The primary method of teaching is through practical experience of fieldwork.
  • Fieldwork will be preceded by an orientation workshop in the previous academic year. These build on information and briefing sessions held during Doing Anthropological Research.
  • Fieldwork will be supplemented by on-site presentations and discussions to explore key lessons and concepts related to the intended learning outcomes.
  • Assessment is through written coursework submitted following the course but based on fieldwork work conducted during the field course period.
  • The assessment is designed to assess the extent of students' knowledge and understanding and their ability to apply this to a fieldwork setting.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Fieldwork175 hours75Yes
Orientation13 hours3Yes
Notebook Surgery212Yes
Preparation & Reading 120 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: Fieldwork ReportComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Qualitative Fieldwork Report2000 words50 
Quantitative Fieldwork Report2000 words50 

Formative Assessment

500 word plan for each report indicating (for qualitative) the argument, literature and ethnographic materials you intend using and (for quantitative) the question you are asking and the analysis you intend to undertake to answer it. In addition, formative feedback will be provided on aspects of work undertaken during each day of the field course and during report writing surgeries.

More information

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