Postgraduate Course: Doing Anthropology: Ethnographic Methods and Practices (SCAN11030)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will introduce students from diverse academic backgrounds to what anthropological research involves in universities and the world beyond. Alongside a series of lectures on methods and ethics in ethnographic fieldwork, the course involves students designing and carrying out their own the group-based fieldwork projects. It also addresses the public role of anthropology as an engaged practice, and the ways ethnographic research is used or applied to address specific problems in the world. |
| Course description |
This course will introduce students on the MSc in Social Anthropology from diverse academic backgrounds to what anthropological research involves both in universities and the world beyond. In focusing on fieldwork methods, research design and the practical uses of anthropological knowledge, it is intended to complement the other core MSc courses. The first half of the course will focus on past and present practices of ethnographic fieldwork, with a practical emphasis on anthropological methods and ethics that will help students design and carry out their own the group-based research projects for the course. The student projects, which will be supported by weekly tutorials and form the primary basis of assessment, will involve groups of students collectively identifying a specific in-person or online location to carry out ethnographic research. The second half of the course will address questions of engaged anthropological practice more broadly to consider questions of representation, the public role of anthropology as an engaged practice, and the ways research is used or applied to address specific problems in the world. The final two lectures will present case studies with examples of academic research design, as well as a guest lecture from an anthropologist working outside of academia.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Other Study Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
166 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
The course involves a group fieldwork component, which can be carried out in person or online.
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
50%, Fieldnotes Essay, 2000 words max
50%, Final Project Report, 3000 words max |
| Feedback |
Students will receive formative feedback on their first writing assignment, the Fieldnotes Essay. Since the essay will include a sample of the students fieldnotes and a transcript of interview material, the assignment will provide an ideal opportunity to guide students in giving them feedback on how the methods and content presented in the first assignment can be employed in the final report. The course tutorial discussions will also be orientated toward this same feedback process, in preparation for the fieldwork and the final report. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of key methods and ethical issues in ethnographic fieldwork
- Be able to design and carry out collaborative fieldwork project in groups
- Show that they can reflect critically and creatively on their experiences in research
- Participate actively in group presentations of research findings
- Incorporate their individual field notes and reflections in essays
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Reading List
Davies, Charlotte A. 2012. Reflexive Ethnography: A Guide to Researching Selves and Others. London: Routledge.
Hammersley, Martyn, & Paul Atkinson. 2019. Ethnography: Principles in Practice (4th edition). London: Routledge.
Fluer-Lobban, Corolyn. 2013. Ethics and Anthropology: Ideas and Practice. Altamira.
Lassiter, Luke Eric. 2005. The Chicago Guide to Collaborative Ethnography. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
O'Reilly, Karen. 2012. Ethnographic Methods. London: Routledge.
Pink, Sarah. 2009. Doing Sensory Ethnography. London: Sage. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will be able to create new knowledge and opportunities for learning through research and enquiry, including the abilities to:
Collect, evaluate and synthesize empirical material from ethnographic fieldwork
Articulate, sustain and defend well-structured arguments
Exercise informed independent thought and critical judgment
Be able to apply concepts, theories and methods used in social anthropology in order to elucidate problems of society and culture
Work both independently and co-operate effectively with others
Seek and value open feedback in order to inform genuine self-awareness
Recognise the benefits of communicating with those beyond their immediate environments
Present and communicate information, both orally and in writing, in a clear way
Develop effective presentation skills, and the ability to work effectively in groups
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Casey High
Tel:
Email: C.High@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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