Module Content

In this module, I invite students to join me in exploring key dimensions of ethnography as the methodological foundation of anthropological research and knowledge production. Together, we will examine three major areas of methodology by (i) scrutinizing some of the major concepts that underpin ethnography’s intellectual contribution to the study of contemporary society; (ii) exploring how to perform ethnographic methods and other relevant qualitative research skills in practice; and (iii) cultivating an understanding of anthropological research as an ethically engaged and critically reflexive practice. The learning on this module revolves around a mixture of lecture content, pre-seminar activities (such as reading), and participation in seminars via discussion and group activities. A major component of this module is ‘learning by doing’ via formative peer research projects which test different facets of ethnographic research in practice.  

 

Indicative Topics

The module will cover the following topics, which may be subject to variation depending on developments in academic research and the interests of the class:

Participant observation Ethnography
	Research design
	Decolonising and ethically engaged methodology  
	Ethnographic interview
	Peer research projects
 

Learning Outcomes

Having completed the course students will:

Have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the ethnographic method and other associated research practices;
	Be able to demonstrate a critical awareness of the ethnographic method – both as a conceptual approach and research practice, and be able to reflect on this method in light of current challenges in the field of social anthropology;
	Be able to demonstrate the application of methodological knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in this field;
	Understand how particular methods enable the collection of particular forms of empirical evidence, and be able to evaluate and carry out the appropriate forms of methodology as per anthropologically informed research questions;
	Have a comprehensive understanding of ethics, positionality and reflexivity involved in ethnographic research;
	Have strong command of the following transferable skills:
	Learning as an active agent, working with initiative and minimal supervision; Public speaking and communication
	Teamwork and peer collaboration;
	The ability to plan a coordinated set of tasks and enact these tasks over time to produce a substantial result.
 

Teaching Delivery

This module is taught via a 3-hour seminar. Learning involves:

A lecture delivered by the module convener;
	Student led discussions involving interpretation and analysis of ethnographic and theoretical material
	Interactive student led activities that involve applying concepts in practice
	Formative peer research projects that run throughout the term and culminate in a presentation at the end term.
 

 