Advanced Issues in Anthropological Research (P01989)

? Credit Points : 40 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : SPS-P-P01989

The course is the core subject-specific preparation for MSc by Research students and is made up of 5 linked components

(1) A series of weekly 2-hour seminars which run throughout the year. All MSc by Research and/or probationary PhD students are expected to attend and to make presentations on their research project (at least one in each semester), focusing on the ethnographic and theoretical context for their work.
(2) A complementary series of weekly 90-minute Work in Progress seminars. It is convened by the Postgraduate Advisor, and all postgraduate students are expected to attend and, if possible, present their own material to the seminar. (With pressure of time and numbers, there may be a slight preference for presentations from students in their second or later years in this seminar.) The seminar provides an opportunity to give formal academic presentations within the supportive context of fellow research students. Supervisors and other members of the teaching staff may also attend this seminar, usually at the invitation of the speaker.
(3) In the period immediately before the summer vacation, as part of their formal assessment for upgrading to PhD status, students present dissertation/proposal work in progress to a broader group, including all research students and staff in the Subject Group. Leading into this final third of the course will be
(4) An intensive one-day field Methods Workshop, usually in late April or early May
(5) A half-day research/Funding Proposal Writing workshop, both convened by the subject area's Postgraduate Advisor.

Topics covered

- working with qualitative methodologies
- ethical and political issues
- research design
- communicating research results
- project management and team-working

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Social Anthropology, (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 20 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course student should be able to

- display practical familiarity in ethnographic and other relevant research methods;
- display advanced familiarity with a regional literature (including historical, geographical, demographic, political, etc., aspects) and relevant areas of social and cultural theory;
- be in command of relevant logistical arrangements (e.g. choice of site, local institutional affiliations, ethical committees, visas and permissions, precautionary health measures).

Assessment Information

Although the course is not subject to formal written assessment, students are required to make regular oral presentations on their work in progress. The dissertation/research proposal is the main context in which students are expected to display achievement of the learning outcomes for the course.