ANTH2237 Ethnographic Research Methods Outline

CRICOS Provider Code: 00126G

ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH METHODSANTH2237

SEMESTER TWO, 2010 6 Points

Unit Coordinator/Lecturer: Dr Richard Davis Name: Room: Phone: Email: 1.42 Social Sciences Building 6488 2847 [email protected] 1 of 9Semester 2: 2010

Course Outline: Ethnographic Research Methods UWA ANTH.2237

Consultation times:

Thursday 1-2 pm Room 1.41 Social Sciences Building

Unit DescriptionThis unit acquaints students with ethnographic research techniques and strategies used by social scientists. This unit uses both lectures and practicallybased exercises to assist students to develop a toolkit for future research-oriented studies and to critically and creatively reflect upon the primacy of ethnographic practice within anthropology and sociology.

Outcomes On completion of this unit you should be able to: Have the ability to distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research methods and identify the appropriate qualitative methodology for specific research tasks Have competency in the design and conduct of a research project from developmental stages through to project completion / presentation of data Undertake a research project independently (but with guidance from the lecturer) Have the ability to work collaboratively in workshops with fellow researchers Have an appreciation of ethnographic methods

Unit Structure1 x 100 minute lecture per week for 10 weeks (5-10 minute break in middle of lecture) Thursday 10-12 Rm. 1.07, Woolnough Lecture Theatre (Geography and Geology) 1 x 45 minute Workshop per week for 10 weeks Thursday 3pm - SSCI 1.30 (Anthropology & Sociology Seminar Room) OR Thursday 4pm - SSCI 1.30 (Anthropology & Sociology Seminar Room)

ReadingsYou will be referring to the following texts on a weekly basis in Anthropology & Sociology 2237 so it is recommended that you purchase your own copies from the Co-op Bookshop. However, copies are also available for short-term loan from the Reid Library HSS Reserve Collection, where loan periods can be booked in advance. The following text will be the basis for weekly lectures: Flick, Uwe (2006) An Introduction to Qualitative Research, 3rd ed., Sage, London. The following text will be the basis for weekly Workshops: OReilly, Karen (2005) Ethnographic Methods, Routledge, London. Additionally, the following text, which is unfortunately not available through the Co-op Bookshop but is in the Reid Library Reserve, would make useful (although 2

not compulsory) secondary reading: Angrosino, Michael (2007) Doing Cultural Anthropology: Projects for Ethnographic Data Collection, 2nd ed., Waveland, Long Grove. I also recommend browsing through a few ethnographic works in the library to get a taste of what an ethnographic account looks like.

Taped Lectures: Lectures will be available electronically via WebCT.

Lecture Timetable (Thursday of week below)Week Commenci ng Week 1 26 July Thursday 10- 12pm Laws Lecture Theatre Introduction: What is ethnographic research? Why do ethnographic research? Reading: Flick, Ch.2 Week 2 02 August Historical and theoretical basis of ethnographic research. Readings: Flick, Ch.6 Week 3 09 August The literature review what is it and why do it? Reading: Flick, Ch. 9 Choosing: an ethnographic research project; a topic; a site; a group. Qualitative and quantitative research. Reading: Flick, Ch.3 The philosophy of ethnographic inquiry. Readings: Flick, Ch.7 Making effective use of the library: archival & library data. Reading: Flick, Ch.19

Week 4 16 August

Ethics, responsibilities, obligations and risks. Readings: Flick, Ch.4

Research design: getting a project off the ground. Readings: Flick, Ch.9 & 12

Week 5 23 August Week 6 30 August

Free week for 1 assignment preparationst

First assignment Research Proposal due Friday August 27 Going into the field and establishing relationships. Keeping records and writing notes. Reading: Flick, Ch.10-11 Participant observation and other observational methods Readings: Flick, Ch.17 Interviewing strategies Readings: Flick, Ch.14

Week 7 06 September Week 8 13 September Week 9 20 September 27 September Week 10

Designing questions and interview schedules. Readings: Flick, Ch.13

Free week for data collection for 2nd assignment due 08 October

Analysing the data: from interview to published text. Readings: Flick, Ch.29

Analysing the data: The coding process Readings: Flick, Ch.23 & 26

NON TEACHING STUDY BREAK Counting, measuring & monitoring Analysing the data: Assessing validity


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04 October Week 11 11 October

Reading: Flick, Ch.15 Presenting results: Writing and presentation: different types of report writing theses, reports, etc. Readings: Flick, Ch.30

Readings: Flick, Ch.28 Recording, photographing & filming Readings: Flick, Ch.18

Week 11 18 October

The poetics and politics of ethnography

Overview of course

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Workshop ActivitiesWeek Commenci ng Week 1 26 July Week 2 02 August No Workshops Ethnographic methods (OReilly, Ch.1) Workshop Discussion Topic

Activity: Identify research sites and questions. Discussion: What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative methods? What is the difference (if any) between ethnographic methods and qualitative methods? Is ethnography scientific?

Week 3 09 August

Getting a project off the ground (OReilly, Ch.2) NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE: Activity: Undertake a literature search for your research topic. The venue for this weeks Workshops is the Reid Training Room HSS Library (meet out front). The Place of ethics (OReilly, Ch.3) Activity: You will work in pairs to assess the ethical implications of various scenarios presented to you at the start of Workshop. Discussion: Present your findings to class and discuss the outcomes Free week for 1st assignment preparation First assessment due 27 August Developing a qualitative strategy and preparing for fieldwork (OReilly, Ch.4 & 7) Activity: Practice participant observation around campus Discussion: What are some common obstacles in integrating with communities and settings as a fieldworker? Why is it important to maintain good record keeping in the field? What are the advantages of covert observation over announcing oneself to those being observed? Is covert observation ethical? What advantages might there be in using visual recording mediums to complement observation?

Week 4 16 August

Week 5 23 August Week 6 30 August

Week 7 06 September

Interviewing (OReilly, Ch.5-6) Activity: Draft an interview schedule and test it out on a partner Discussion: What are the elements of a good interview? How accurate are peoples responses in interviews to their true feelings and opinions? What ethical issues need to be considered when interviewing? Free week for data collection for 2nd assignment due 08 October

Week 8 13 September Week 9 20 September

Analysing Data (OReilly, Ch.8) Activity: Undertake some preliminary coding and analysis of your interview data. Discussion: What analytical techniques do you propose to use to review your ethnographic data? What can and cant you conclude from interview data? What are some of the biases that may affect your interpretation of data? NON TEACHING STUDY BREAK Presenting your findings (OReilly, Ch.9)

27 September Week 10


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04 October Activity: Draft an outline of your report Discussion: What reporting style do you propose to use to present your data? What audience are you writing for? In what ways will this influence your style of presentation?

Week 11 11 October

Final report preparation Well use this session to talk about any areas that you feel uncertain about as you head towards the completion of your reports. No Workshops

Week 12 18 October

AssessmentAssessment for this unit will comprise four components. 1. 2. 3. 4. Workshop attendance and participation: (20%) Research proposal: 1,000 words (20%) Due: 5pm Friday 27 August 2010 Fieldnotes: 800 words (10%) Due: 5pm Friday 8 October Research report: 3,000 words (50%) Due: 5pm Friday 22 October

Please note that in order to pass this unit, you must receive a grade for each component of the assessment. Make sure you keep a backup copy of all written assessment (literature review and research report). You must attach a completed Department cover sheet to your work (available from the Anthropology Office).

1. Workshop attendance and participationYour workshop participation grade will be based on preparation for workshops (including weekly readings), contribution to class discussions and participation in activities. Please note that workshop attendance is compulsory. Unless medical or other acceptable explanations are provided, absences from workshops will result in a zero being recorded for that particular week.

2. Research proposal:Students will work individually to develop a research proposal on a particular research topic. Possible research sites and subject areas from which students can develop their projects are listed below. Other areas of interest can be discussed in workshops. There are limitations on the kind of research project you may undertake, so make sure that you receive approval from the unit coordinator for the topics selected. University life: e.g. analysis of an aspect of university life Pub culture: e.g. socialising patterns, gendered interaction Gymnasiums: e.g. body image and the self Public eating: e.g. food consumption as social activity Shopping malls: e.g. consumer behaviours Tourist attractions: tourist behaviours

The research proposal will outline the intended purpose of the project and provide a review of the relevant literature review and an outline of your methodology. The specific areas to be covered in your research proposal are as follows: 6

project aim(s), literature review, significance of the study, research methodology, ethical considerations, interview schedule, project information sheet & participant consent forms (attached as appendices).

3. Fieldnotes:Photocopy and submit up to (but no more than) 1,000 words of your fieldnotes. Ensure that: you have numbered and dated each page; you have assigned appropriate coding to your informants (if applicable), and that the copies are legible.

4. Research report:Students will be required to write a 3,000 word ethnographic report based on their field research. Be sure to include the following: introduction, outline of the methodology employed, summary of the collected data (i.e. the results section), discussion of the findings, including theories relevant to explaining the outcomes, conclusion, references.

Your report will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria: the degree of effort you have devoted to the exercise (including data collection, data analysis and writing), the utilisation of ethnographic methods, the quality of analysis and interpretation of data, (i.e. an engagement with anthropological / sociological theories), originality in research application, data analysis, and writing, presentation of the report (expression, structure, spelling, referencing, typing/word processing, and illustrations).

Written assignment guidelines: Late penalties:1. All essays must be submitted to the Anthropology office before 5pm on the due date to avoid penalties (less 2% for each day overdue). 2. Any extension time must be applied for in writing and can be granted only by the Unit Coordinator in consultation with the Head of Discipline. Extensions will not normally be granted without supporting documentation (e.g. a medical certificate).

Plagiarism:Be aware that the work you submit must be your own with no unacknowledged debt to some other writer or source. To pass off written work as your own, whether you have copied it from someone else or from somewhere else (be it a published writer, another person, a TV program, a library anthology, a lecture, a website or whatever) is to deprive yourself of the real benefits of this unit and to be guilty of plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious offence! University policy is that plagiarism, the unacknowledged quotation of material from other people's work, is a ground for failure. The range of penalties for plagiarism includes a mark of 0%Course Outline: Ethnographic Research Methods UWA ANTH.2237

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for the assignment concerned, failure for the unit, suspension and even exclusion from the university. In all cases, your name placed on a central plagiarism register. If you take notes from other sources (critical articles, background works, etc.) you must quote carefully and accurately, and acknowledge the quotation. Even if you paraphrase, you must still acknowledge that you are paraphrasing. This is very important! It is your responsibility to read the Faculty policy on plagiarism: http://www.arts.uwa.edu.au/for/students/policies/plagiarism

Appeals against academic assessment:If students feel they have been unfairly assessed, they have the right to appeal their mark by submitting an Appeal Against Academic Assessment form to the Head of School and Faculty Office. The form must be submitted within twelve working days of the formal dispatch of your unit assessment. It is recommended that students contact the Guild Education Officers to aid them in the appeals process. They can be contacted on +61 8 6488 2295 or [email protected]. Full regulations governing appeals procedures are available in the University Handbook, available online at .

Charter of student rights:This Charter of Student Rights upholds the fundamental rights of students who undertake their education at the University of Western Australia. It recognises that excellence in teaching and learning requires students to be active participants in their educational experience. It upholds the ethos that in addition to the Universitys role of awarding formal academic qualifications to students, the University must strive to instill in all students independent scholarly learning, critical judgement, academic integrity and ethical sensitivity. Please refer to the guild website for the full charter of student rights, located at http://www.guild.uwa.edu.au/info/student_help/student_rights/charter.shtml.

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Textbooks on Ethnographic MethodsAgar, M 1980 The Professional Stranger: An Informal Introduction to Ethnography. New York: Academic Press. 305.8001 1996 PRO Bernard, H 2002 Research Methods in Anthropology: qualitative and quantitative methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. 306.072 2002 RES Brewer, J. 2000 Ethnography. Buckingham: Open University Press. 305.8001 2000 ETH Ellen, R (ed.) 1984 Ethnographic Research: A Guide to General Conduct. London: Academic Press. 306.072 1984 ETH Emerson, R.M, Rachel Fretz & Linda Shaw. 1995. Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. Chicago & London: University of Chicago Press. 305.800723 1995 WRI Fetterman, D. 1989 Ethnography: Step by Step. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. 306.018 1989 ETH Hammersley, M. and P. Atkinson 1995 Ethnography: Principles in Practice. London: Routledge. 305.8001 2007 ETH Lecompte, M. & J. Schensul 1999 Designing and Conducting Ethnographic Research. Walnut Creek, Calif.: AltaMira Press. 305.80072 1999 ETH Lecompte, M. & J. Schensul 1999 Analyzing and Interpreting Ethnographic Data. Walnut Creek, Calif.: AltaMira Press. 305.80072 1999 ETH Sanjek, R. (ed). 1990. Fieldnotes: The Makings of Anthropology. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. 306.072 1990 FIE Schensul, J and Margaret D. LeCompte c1999. The Ethnographer's Toolkit Walnut. Creek, Calif.: AltaMira Press. 305.80072 1999 ETH Schensul, S., J. Schensul, and M. LeCompte (1999) Essential Ethnographic Methods: Observations, Interviews, and Questionnaires. Walnut Creek, Calif.: AltaMira Press. 305.80072 1999 ETH Spradley, J 1979 The Ethnographic Interview. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 301.072 1979 ETH Spradley, J 1980 Participant Observation. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Wolcott, Harry F. 1995. The Art of Fieldwork. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press, A Division of Sage Publications, Inc. 306.0723 1980 PAR Watson, C.W. (ed) 1999 Being There: Fieldwork in Anthropology. London, Sterling Virginia: Pluto Press. Werner, O & G. M. Schoepfle 1987 Systematic Fieldwork. (2 Volumes). Newbury Park, CA: Sage. 306.072 1987 SYS Other Gupta, A & James Ferguson (eds) 1997. Anthropological locations: boundaries and grounds of a field science. Published Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 301.0723 1997 ANT Hammersley, M. 1998. Reading Ethnographic Research. (2nd ed.) London & New York: Longman. 305.80072 1998 REA Marcus, G.E. 1998. Ethnography through Thick and Thin. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Whiteford, Linda M. & Robert T. Trotter II. 2008. Ethics for Anthropological Research and Practice. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.


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ANTH2237 Ethnographic Research Methods Outline

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