AANK13010U Field Methods with Synopsis

Volume 2015/2016
Content

The purpose of the course is twofold: 1) to prepare students to carry out three months ethnographic field as part of the anthropological project they plan during the course; and 2) to help them develop the skills necessary for writing a convincing and realistic project proposal.

The course introduces students to advanced anthropological methodology, critical reflections and ethical considerations relevant to their field of study. It also focuses on demonstrating the social or academic relevance of the project and encouraging cooperation and co-working between students. Students will write a project proposal demonstrating that the planned fieldwork is feasible, well-planned and thorough attention has been given to its analytical, methodological and ethical aspects. If project-oriented work (internship) is planned, the student must demonstrate how this form of fieldwork can be used for data generation.

Three obligatory papers must be approved by the course lecturer. These papers consist of: a literature review and two synopsis drafts.

When the fieldwork is executed within the context of a private business or organisation, a contract between the student, the organisation and the Department of Anthropology must be signed. The student signs the contract in cooperation with the supervisor and unit Anthropological Analysis. The contract ensures the student's right to generate data during the internship or period of fieldwork, sets down guidelines for the use and publication of data, and outlines procedures that are to be followed should disagreements arise between the student and the company/organisation. The contract must be approved and signed by the relevant parties and must as far as possible be handed in as an appendix to the synopsis. Students can find a standard agreement for cooperation with 3rd parties at the website of the Department of Anthropology.

 

Learning Outcome

At the end of the course, students write a linguistically clear and academically well-argued synopsis that demonstrates that they are capable of:

- planning extensive anthropological fieldwork on the basis of a problem of their choosing

- choosing and relating to relevant regional and thematic literature

- demonstrating and describing how to search for and select relevant literature

- delineating the problem in relation to the local social and historical context

- evaluating the relevance of different anthropological methodologies in relation to the problem

- incorporating thinking about the problem, methodology and possible analytical perspectives

- evaluating the feasibility of the project

- reflecting on the ethical aspects of the planned project.

Students must also fulfil the Department of Anthropology's form and language requirements (see the appropriate section in the curriculum’s common part).

 

Approx. 700 pages of literature, of which 100-150 pages is obligatory course literatureAnd the remainder is to be chosen by the student herself and discussed in the literature review.

The course consists of a series of 14 x 3 hour seminars. In addition, there will be 3 meetings per synopsis with a supervisor of approx. 45 minutes. The supervision can be either individual supervision or individual supervision in groups. Supervision in groups consists of students assigned to the same supervisor, typically 2 to 3 students. The students will usually have a common thematic or theoretical interest in their projects. The basic idea is that the students receive individual supervision in turns, and that the other students will learn from listening to comments that relate to fellow students' work. If the supervision is done as individual supervision in groups then each meeting will be 45 minutes x 2 ~ approx. 90 minutes. It is still possible for students to receive individual supervision without being in a supervision group, if students or teachers so prefers. However individual supervision without a supervision group can mean that you will not get the supervisor for whom you have applied. For group papers each meeting will be with all group members present. In this case each meeting will be 45 minutes x 1.5 ~ approx. 65 minutes.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 25
  • Exam
  • 37
  • Guidance
  • 2,25
  • Preparation
  • 285,25
  • Seminar
  • 63
  • Total
  • 412,50
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Length: Min. 18,000 - max. 22.000 keystrokes for individual papers. For group
papers, plus an additional min. 4.500 - max.5.500 keystrokes per extra Group member.
The synopsis is submitted individually unless students plan to carry out fieldwork as a group. Read more about the rules for group examinations in the Curriculum 4.3.1.

The Synopsis and the appendix will be evaluated on the basis of the stipulated aims for the course (see description of aims). See also the Synopsis- and Appendix Content listed below (see requirements for the examination).

The appendix must include app. 700 pages of readings (+ 250 additional pages per extra group member). Appendix max. 5.000 keystrokes.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Re-exam

1st Re-examination
A new Synopsis with a revised problem statement is submitted on the prescribed date. The student must participate in the examination in order to be eligible for re-examination. The student will be registered for the reexamination automatically
2nd Re-examination
A new Synopsis with a revised problem statement is submitted during the next exam period, on a prescribed date. The students must register for the exam.

Criteria for exam assesment

See description of learning outcome. Formalities for Written Works must be fulfilled, read more: MSc Students