ANTH 480
PRACTICING ETHNOGRAPHIC METHODS
- Catalog Entry
ANTH 480. Practicing Ethnographic Methods
Two hours lecture; two hours field (4).
Prerequisite: ANTH 121.
A research project of the student's own choosing is carried through from entree into a local cultural scene through analysis of data and writing an ethnography. The course promotes understanding of anthropological method and perspective for viewing people and situations.
- Detailed Description of Content of Course
I. Ethnography and Culture
II. Ethnography For What?
III. The Ethnographic Research Cycle
A. The Developmental Research Sequence Method
B. Developmental Research Sequence Writing Tasks
IV. Locating a Social Situation
V. Doing Participant Observation
VI. Making an Ethnographic Record
VII. Making Descriptive Observations
VIII. Making a Domain Analysis
IX. Making Focused Observations
X. Coding Data For Analysis
XI. Making a Taxonomic Analysis
XII. Making Selected Observations
XIII. Making a Componential Analysis
XIV. Discovering Cultural Themes
XV. Taking a Cultural Inventory
XVI. Writing an Ethnography
- Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Students do original research through weekly guided exercises which are discussed in class. The final product is an ethnography (study of a culture) based on the student's own research. Book reports and writing exercises offer the students alternatives of format and focus for their own ethnographies.
- Goals and Objectives of the Course
By completing this course, students should have acquired:
1. a fundamental working knowledge of anthropological (qualitative, ethnographic, participant observation) methods;
2. an understanding that the student's own culture influences perception;
3. an understanding of the complexity of any cultural scene;
4. a knowledge of the distinctions among the ethnographic methods, other social science methods, and usual modes of perception.
- Assessment Measures
Assignments may include weekly reports of field research, interview transcriptions and analyses undertaken, as well as
book reports and rough drafts of the student's ethnography. The ethnography itself, and an oral presentation of it, are the final products of the course. Class participation is also evaluated.
- Other Course Information
Students are required to use a computer word processing system and some specialized software for the analysis of ethnographic data.
- Review and Approval
DATE ACTION REVIEWED
September, 2001 Reviewed Peggy A. Shifflett |