SC277-5-FY-CO:
Ethnographic Research Methods
2020/21
Sociology and Criminology
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 08 October 2020
Friday 02 July 2021
30
07 October 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
SC203, SC208
SC831, SC832
BA LL36 Social Anthropology,
BA LL3P Social Anthropology (Including Year Abroad),
BA LL6P Social Anthropology (Including Placement Year),
BA LL37 Social Anthropology with Human Rights,
BA LL38 Social Anthropology with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
BA LL39 Social Anthropology with Human Rights (Including Placement Year)
The module offers the methods elements for the Anthropology degree scheme and incorporates basic ethnographic research methods. The autumn term will cover the theories, ethics and philosophical and conceptual bases of ethnographic research methods. We will focus on ethnographies and articles that critically discuss ethnographic research methods in preparation for the mini ethnographies students will conduct in the spring term.
The module aims to provide students with a basic understanding of ethnographic research methods so they can apply and practice such methods in the field, interpret and critically analyse data and write a mini ethnography.
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of theories, philosophies and critiques of ethnographic research methods.
2. Develop cultural sensitivity and proper ethical frameworks to conduct research in different social and cultural contexts.
3. Develop necessary skills to formulate a research proposal.
4. Apply ethnographic research methods to conduct field research.
5. Demonstrate analytical articulation and writing skills by completing a mini ethnography.
Students are required to read the assigned material for the week in advance. The autumn term sessions will focus on ethnographies and associated critical readings. These sessions will be characterised by a mixed format of lecturing, discussion, group activity, and film clip discussion.
No information available.
- Gershon, Ilana. (2010) The breakup 2.0: disconnecting over new media, Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press.
- Ferguson, James. (c1994) 'The Decentralization Debate', in The anti-politics machine: "development," depoliticization, and bureaucratic power in Lesotho, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press., pp.127-148
- (2017-07-04) Methods for Analyzing Social Media, London: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
- (no date) “Intoxogenic Digital Spaces? Youth, Social Networking Sites and Alcohol Marketing”.
- Ahlin, Tanja; Li, Lifang. (no date) “From Fieldsites to Field Events: Creating the Field with information and communication technologies.”.
- Pandian, Anand. (2019-10-17) Possible Anthropology, North Carolina: Duke University Press.
- Ferguson, James. (c1994) 'Institutional Apparatus: the Thaba-Tseka Development Project', in The anti-politics machine: "development," depoliticization, and bureaucratic power in Lesotho, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
- Ferguson, James. (c1994) 'Conceptual apparatus: the constitution of the object of “development” — Lesotho as “less developed country” .', in The anti-politics machine: "development," depoliticization, and bureaucratic power in Lesotho, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press., pp.28-55
- Spradley, James P. (c1979) The ethnographic interview, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
- Ferguson, James. (c1994) The anti-politics machine: "development," depoliticization, and bureaucratic power in Lesotho, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
- Gopnick, Alison. (July 21, 2019) 'The Students of Sex and Culture', in The Atlantic.
- Treichler, Paula A. (2011-12-31) How to Have Theory in an Epidemic: Duke University Press.
- (2016-06-19) eFieldnotes, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press.
- A, Miroschnichenko. (2016) “Extrapolating on McLuhan: How Media Environments of the Given, the Represented and the Induced Shape and Reshape our Sensorium”: Philosohophies. vol. 1 (1)
- Turner, Victor; Abrahams, Roger D; Harris, Alfred. (2017-10-11) Ritual Process, London: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
- Hand, Martin. (2020-06-29) Making Digital Cultures, London: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
- King, Charles. (2019) Gods of the upper air: how a circle of renegade anthropologists reinvented race, sex, and gender in the twentieth century, New York: Doubleday.
- Page, Ruth; Unger, Johann Wolfgang; Zappavigna, Michele; Barton, David. (2014-06-26) Researching Language and Social Media, London: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
- Williams, Bianca. (2018) The Pursuit of Happiness, Durham: Duke University Press.
- Lave, Jean; Wenger, Etienne. (1991) Situated learning: legitimate peripheral participation, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Cox, Aimee. (2015) Shapeshifters: Black Girls and the Choreography of Citizenship, Durham: Duke University Press.
- Ferguson, James. (c1994) 'The Anti-Politics Machine', in The anti-politics machine: "development," depoliticization, and bureaucratic power in Lesotho, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press., pp.161-174
- Ferguson, James. (no date) 'Epilogue', in The anti-politics machine: "development," depoliticization, and bureaucratic power in Lesotho, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press., pp.175-179
- George Orwell: Politics and the English Language, https://www.orwell.ru/library/essays/politics/english/e_polit
- Ferguson, James. (c1994) 'Livestock Development', in The anti-politics machine: "development," depoliticization, and bureaucratic power in Lesotho, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press., pp.113-126
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Final Presentation Digital Ethnography |
|
10% |
| Coursework |
Methods Assignment - Week 6 |
|
10% |
| Coursework |
Digital Ethnography - Written Assignment |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Argument Outline |
|
10% |
| Coursework |
Argument Assessment |
|
10% |
| Coursework |
Final Written Assignment |
|
30% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Johanna Romer, email: johanna.romer@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Jason Sumich, email: js18415@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Johanna Romer
Jane Harper, Undergraduate Administrator, General Office (room 6.339), Telephone 01206 873052, email: socugrad@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Monika Krause
London School of Economics
Dr Aneira Edmunds
School of Law, Politics & Sociology
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 1155 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
1155 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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