Prof Catherine Allerton

This course is compulsory on the BA in Social Anthropology, BSc in Social Anthropology and Exchange Programme for Students in Anthropology (Melbourne). This course is available on the BA in Anthropology and Law, Exchange Programme for Students in Anthropology (Cape Town), Exchange Programme for Students in Anthropology (Fudan) and Exchange Programme for Students in Anthropology (Tokyo). This course is not available as an outside option nor to General Course students.

The aim of this course is to guide and support students as they identify, execute and write-up their own ethnographic project. In parallel with their research activities, students will develop research skills for the collection, analysis and representation of ethnographic data. The course will provide training in ethnographic observation, participation, listening, questioning, interviewing, analysing and writing. One session will be dedicated to discussing a range of ethical dilemmas that may emerge during the course of ethnographic research.

Students will demonstrate their research skills by applying them to the research questions pursued in their ethnographic project. They will write a 4,500 to 5,000- word essay reporting on their research activities and findings.

1 hour of lectures in the AT. 20 hours of seminars in the WT.

The contact hours listed above are the minimum expected. This course has a reading week in Week 6 of WT.

A short description of the student’s proposed research project will be discussed in WT week 1 in a student-led workshop. Students will then produce a 1000-word report due between weeks 5 and 7, describing the progress made on the research, including a sample ethnographic description and an explanation of the methods used to date. Students will receive feedback on the report within two weeks of submission.

Amit, Vered. Constructing the Field: Ethnographic Fieldwork in the Contemporary World (2003); DeWalt, K.M. & DeWalt, B.M Participant Observation: A guide for fieldworkers (2010); Bernard. H.R. Research Methods in Anthropology, 5th edition (2011).

Essay (100%, 5000 words) in the ST.