ANTHRO 753 : Ethnographic Research
Arts
2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Ethnography is both a process – a way of doing research – and the product of this process – a representation of human life. As a process, ethnography is key part of social anthropology, and as a product, it is one of the distinguishing features of academic literature from the discipline. Creating sustained relationships with interlocutors over the course of long-term fieldwork and understanding how the researcher affects the research provides the ethnographer with a unique perspective on culture.
Since debates in the 1980s about ethnographies as texts and the concomittal crisis of ethnographic representation, fieldwork and the ethnographic writing it creates has become much more of an object of scrutiny. As a result, there is now a significant literature on the issues inherent to ethnographic research and understanding them is a crucial part of becoming a researcher.
In this course, we will examine the process and products of ethnographic research from both theoretical and practical perspectives. We will read through and discuss literature on fieldwork techniques, ethics, reflexivity and methodology, while also embarking on some introductory practical exercises in this very form of research. Each individual ethnographic activity you work through will be brought together in the form of a single research project by the end of the semester.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the place of field research in the creation of anthropological knowledge (Capability 3.2)
- Understand the epistemological issues that inform this research (Capability 4.3 and 5.2)
- Understand the ethics and politics of ethnographic research (Capability 6.3)
- Be familiar on a practical level with some ethnographic field methods and techniques (Capability 1.3)
- Be familiar with the crucial role of mātauranga māori in informing tikanga as they relate to ethnographic research in Aotearoa (Capability 6.2)
- Read ethnographic texts with a critical awareness of their constructed nature (Capability 2.1 and 5.1)
- Demonstrate reading, writing and discussion levels appropriate for postgraduate students (Capability 4.1 and 4.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Class Participation | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Research Essay Project | 50% | Individual Coursework |
| Practical Exercises | 40% | Individual Coursework |
| 3 types | 100% |
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance on campus is required for every one of the weekly 2-hour seminars.
Please let me know if you cannot make it to class, I will ensure you have what you need to catch up on what you missed.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.