THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Divinity : Religious Studies

Undergraduate Course: Field-Work Approaches for the Study of Religion (REST10047)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Divinity CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummarySome understanding of theoretical, ethical and practical aspects of field work is essential for students engaging in research with people. Given that a focus on religion is common to all students in Divinity, and that research in this area faces some very particular issues, this course will enable undergraduate students especially but not only from Religious Studies and Practical Theology to gain the necessary competence and confidence.
Course description Academic Description:
This course aims to investigate the manner in which fieldwork plays an important role in the study of religion. Some understanding of theoretical, ethical and practical aspects of field work is essential for students engaging in research with people. Given that a focus on religion is common to all students in Divinity, and that research in this area faces some very particular issues, this course will enable undergraduate students especially but not only from Religious Studies and Practical Theology to gain the necessary competence and confidence. In order to achieve this, the course combines strong theoretical and practical discussion ranging from insider/outsider issues in the study of religion, alongside detailed classwork on participant observation, interview techniques, questionnaire, how to run focus groups, and writing up fieldwork notes. These debates will be carefully considered both in the lectures and the seminar discussions based on readings that are both empirically rich and theoretically innovative.

Syllabus/Outline Content:
The complexity and richness of the course will be illustrated through thematic considerations such as the importance of qualitative and quantitative methods, validity and reliability, the researcher as research tool. It will also look at issues surrounding religion, faith and praxis and how to approach group-based research in religion. More theoretical considerations will be examined through the insider/outsider problems in fieldwork, the geo-political dimensions of fieldwork in religion, and a practical way to conceptualise and plan a research project. It will finally consider placing the Self in Field Research.

Student Learning Experience Information:
The course has a programme of two-hour weekly meetings consisting sometimes of one-hour weekly lectures, and one-hour seminar discussions. Because this is also a practical course that will involve individual and group work to design, implement and also do fieldwork, some of the sessions will not follow the traditional lecture-seminar model.
The meetings will be interactive and will allow students to engage with the topic through lecture and seminar discussion. Through their participation in lectures, seminars, written work, final projects, and feedback offered, students will demonstrate their achievement of the intended learning outcomes.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should have at least 3 Divinity/Religious Studies courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. A basic understanding of the contribution of field work to the study or practice of religion.
  2. The ability to identify and carry out practical research in Edinburgh related to the broad field of religion, using anthropological approaches, presented in a 2000 word essay and formative and summative field work reports.
  3. The capacity to translate this training to dissertation or relevant coursework
  4. Engagement with the secondary sources and scholarly debates on the relevant issues.
  5. An ability to construct lucid arguments, especially in written work, and to learn important communication skills through presentations and group discussions
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsFWApp
Contacts
Course organiserDr Arkotong Longkumer
Tel: (0131 6)50 8781
Email: A.Longkumer@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Katrina Munro
Tel: (0131 6)50 8900
Email: Kate.Munro@ed.ac.uk
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