Research Methods in Anthropology
Course code
HIA6336.HT
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Uurimismeetodid antropoloogias
Course title in English
Research Methods in Anthropology
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2023/2024 Spring semester
Timothy Raymond Anderson (language of instruction:English)
lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
In this course we will use the life-history approach as a hands-on example through which to illustrate the strengths of personalised, in-depth, qualitative, ethnographic fieldwork. Throughout the module we examine the relationship between theory and methods and through our focus on life history research, we will also examine the links between methods and a key theoretical concern in anthropology; the relationship between the individual and society.
Brief description of the course
Fieldwork has been the hallmark of social anthropological research since the field's inception. Ethnographic fieldwork has a strong emphasis in qualitative research and a reliance on the use of participant observation and the ethnographic interview. Despite this, the way fieldwork is conceived and conducted (and its relationship to theory) have changed dramatically, alongside the discipline. In his book “Routes, Travel And Translation In The Late Twentieth Century”, Clifford (1997) flags two important aspects of fieldwork: first, the formation of intensive interactions and relationships that produce “deep” understanding in settings that can vary in time and location, and, second, a sense of displacement, movement or travel for the fieldworker thus allowing for a more objective detached perspective. The ways in which anthropologists strive to interact with people while maintaining objectivity makes research ethics and methodological choices particularly important.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- is familiar with ethnographic methods and their current developments;
- is able to choose proper methods of research depending on the topic of interest.
- is familiar with ethnographic methods and their current developments;
- is able to choose proper methods of research depending on the topic of interest.
Teacher
Timothy Andersson
The course is a prerequisite
Additional information
Students are assessed on this course through a combination of coursework and a final project, together with the project presentation. The first half of the mark will be made up of assignments based on the course topics, which will be marked by the course lecturer. Feedback on coursework will be provided to the student; through this feedback students are informed of the strengths and weaknesses of their understanding and their presentation of anthropological arguments. The course will end with a presentation of personal projects “Põhjala tehas community”. The final project is based largely on the course assignment.
Clifford & Marcus, 1986, Writing Culture: The Poetics and Politics of Ethnography. Berkeley. Univ. of California Press.
Watson. C.W., 1999, Being There: Fieldwork in Anthropology. London. Pluto Press.
Bernard, Russell (ed.). Handbook of Methods in Cultural Anthropology.
Angrosino, Michael V. 2005. Projects in ethnographic research. Long Grove, Ill.: Waveland.
LeCompte, Margaret Diane, and Jean J. Schensul. 1999. Designing & conducting ethnographic research, Ethnographer's toolkit. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.
Skinner, Jonathan. 2012. „A Four-part Introduction to the Interview: Introducing the Interview; Society, Sociology and the Interview; Anthropology and the Interview;
Anthropology and the Interview.“ in The Interview - An Ethnographic Approach. ed Jonathan Skinner. London, New York: Berg.
Rapport, Nigel. 2012 “The Interview as a Form of Talking-partnership: Dialectical, Focussed, Ambiguous, Special.” in The Interview - An Ethnographic Approach. ed Jonathan Skinner. London, New York: Berg.
Choose a chapter from the section II – Interview Techniques from The Interview - An Ethnographic Approach. ed Jonathan Skinner. London, New York: Berg.
Clifford & Marcus, 1986, Writing Culture: The Poetics and Politics of Ethnography. Berkeley. Univ. of California Press.
Watson. C.W., 1999, Being There: Fieldwork in Anthropology. London. Pluto Press.
Bernard, Russell (ed.). Handbook of Methods in Cultural Anthropology.
Angrosino, Michael V. 2005. Projects in ethnographic research. Long Grove, Ill.: Waveland.
LeCompte, Margaret Diane, and Jean J. Schensul. 1999. Designing & conducting ethnographic research, Ethnographer's toolkit. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.
Skinner, Jonathan. 2012. „A Four-part Introduction to the Interview: Introducing the Interview; Society, Sociology and the Interview; Anthropology and the Interview;
Anthropology and the Interview.“ in The Interview - An Ethnographic Approach. ed Jonathan Skinner. London, New York: Berg.
Rapport, Nigel. 2012 “The Interview as a Form of Talking-partnership: Dialectical, Focussed, Ambiguous, Special.” in The Interview - An Ethnographic Approach. ed Jonathan Skinner. London, New York: Berg.
Choose a chapter from the section II – Interview Techniques from The Interview - An Ethnographic Approach. ed Jonathan Skinner. London, New York: Berg.
Study programmes containing that course