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ANT2007 Ethnographic Methods: Making Anthropology

Semester 2, 2023 Toowoomba On-campus
Units : 1
School or Department : School of Humanities & Communication
Grading basis : Graded
Course fee schedule : /current-students/administration/fees/fee-schedules

Staffing

Course Coordinator:

Overview

This course introduces students to ethnographic research. Ethnographic research often requires extensive, intensive, and extended periods of fieldwork, which constitutes an important part of anthropological experience and practice. ANT2007 provides students with the opportunity to do such research in the real world in which they live, using a 'hands on' approach for investigating and coming to understand their cultural world.

Ethnography is the principle research tool of Anthropology, in addition to fields as diverse as education, geography, business, heritage studies, tourism, and cultural studies. We find out about things through research; it provides answers to questions about ourselves, other people, and the wider world. Social research collectively is research which is carried out to provide answers to questions about people and the social and cultural settings and systems which they participate in, telling us about differing social and cultural worlds. Ethnographic research is characterised by the central role of the researcher and the use of multiple methods of data collection, involving participant observation and interaction to describe people and their cultures and societies, both in the contemporary world and in the past. This is done so that we may come to understand people's behaviour, and its origins and effects, as well as revealing the qualities and meanings which people attach to themselves, to other people, and to the things in the world around them. It arrives at this understanding not only by measuring phenomena, but also by talking to and observing people, and by studying their cultural and social products, the documents and artefacts which they create. All of these are considered within the contexts of wider social and cultural settings. This holistic framework allows enquiry into the depth, richness, and complexity of human behaviour, understanding, and experience. This course allows students to experience and gain awareness of these important means of coming to acquire accurate knowledge of humans and their creations.

Course learning outcomes

On completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. gather and record data according to ethnographic method;
  2. analyse ethnographic data according to research undertaken in anthropological theory;
  3. apply ethnographic knowledge and skills in written form;
  4. apply ethnographic skills and knowledge in order to collaborate and communicate effectively in reflexive and ethical ways;
  5. apply anthropological knowledge and skills to specific professional environments.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Theoretical contexts to ethnographic practices 20.00
2. Preparing for research: background and design 20.00
3. Diversity of methods 20.00
4. Observing patterns: interpretation 20.00
5. Observing patterns: analysis 20.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

Pelto, P 2013, Applied ethnography: guidelines for field research, Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, California.
Students are also expected to read the material in: Selected readings 1: Theories, issues, and debates and Selected readings 2: Doing research. These selected readings are provided electronically on the USQ精东传媒appDesk via DiRect.

Student workload expectations

To do well in this subject, students are expected to commit approximately 10 hours per week including class contact hours, independent study, and all assessment tasks. If you are undertaking additional activities, which may include placements and residential schools, the weekly workload hours may vary.

Assessment details

Approach Type Description Group
Assessment
Weighting (%) Course learning outcomes
Assignments Practical Practical 1 No 20 1,2,4,5
Assignments Practical Practical 2 No 20 1,2,4,5
Assignments Written Research (paper) No 40 1,2,3,4
Assignments Written Journal No 20 3,4
Date printed 9 February 2024