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for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Anthropological Methods |
| Unit code |
ARCH20048 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Mwenza Blell |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
NONE
|
| Co-requisites |
NONE
|
| School/department |
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit aims to acquaint students with a range of anthropological methodologies and techniques, especially those that underlie the specific topics of units encountered in their programme. Students will have an opportunity to experience first-hand how knowledge is produced and anthropological data is collected, through fieldwork, observation and measurement, interviews and questionnaires, and archival/library research. Data collection, synthesis, and analysis will all be covered, using a range of quantitative and qualitative approaches.
Aims:
- To explore the varieties of possible approaches to anthropological research, including a comprehensive understanding of the ethical issues involved.
- To equip students with skills for the collection and analysis of a range of anthropological data.
- To give students practical experience in conducting anthropological fieldwork.
- To give students experience in preparing and managing a research project.
- To give students experience in discussing, writing-up and presenting their results.
- To give students experience in working as part of a team.
Intended Learning Outcomes
- 1. Identify and discuss the specific research methods associated with anthropology as a profession.
- 2. Demonstrate knowledge of and report practical experience of methods such as recording techniques, interviewing, qualitative and quantitative data sets (primary and secondary), thematic/discourse analysis, statistical analysis, and forms of presentation.
- 3. Recognise the appropriate anthropological methods used to answer different sorts of research questions.
- 4. Recognise and discuss the ways in which anthropology is inherently multi-disciplinary.
- 5. Describe and appraise the process of conducting research, including the ethical implications of being a researcher with human subjects.
- 6. Conceive of a research question and plan a tractable project that answers the question.
- 7. Carry out a small research project as part of a team, in planning, executing and presenting their research.
Teaching Information
- 8 x 2-hour lectures
- 8 x 1-hour drop-in tutorials and practical sessions
- 2 x 3-hour presentation sessions
Assessment Information
- 1. Research notebook containing (a) a field-work diary and (b) 8 x weekly 200-word summaries of each new skill set (40%, 3000 words, summative). Assesses ILOs 1-4
Formative feedback will be given on one week’s entry (diary + summary) before Week 4.
- 2. Group presentation of research project (20%, 15 minutes, summative). Assesses ILOs 5-7
Formative feedback will be given on informal presentations at drop-in tutorials.
- 3. Final individual report on research project (40%, 2500 words, summative). Assesses ILOs 5-7
Reading and References
- Bernard, H.R. (2006) Research Methods in Anthropology. AltaMira.
- Cryer, P. (2006) The research student’s guide to success, 3rd edn, OpenUniv. Press.
- Coleman, S. and Collins, P. (eds) 2006 Locating the Field: space, place and context in anthropology, Oxford; Berg.
- Okely, J. (2012). Anthropological Practice: fieldwork and the ethnographic method.
- Peterson RA (2000) Constructing effective questionnaires. London: Sage.
- Watson, C. (ed.) 1999 Being there: fieldwork in anthropology, London: Pluto Press.
