Type of course

Obligatory prerequisites

Course content

The course is an exploration of qualitative research methodology and related theoretical social scientific approaches. The teaching takes its point of departure in the students¿ own practical experiences during the mini fieldwork, conducted as a part of the course SVF-3101 and the editing of the team films conducted as part of the course SVF-3102. The main aim is to provide the students with theoretical and methodological perspectives relevant to their master research projects.

The course falls in three parts:

• In "Processing field experiences" the students write a paper on methodological challenges related to the mini field work carried out in the autumn semester.
• In "Acquiring analytical perspectives" different theoretical and thematic approaches are presented and discussed.

As part of this course students follow the lectures given in SVF-3106 "Film and Practice-Led Research" but do not take the exam related to this course.

Objectives of the course

Students who have successfully completed the course should have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

• Be familiar with qualitative methodology and research methods.
• Be able to use the literature on methodology presented in previous courses on their own empirical material
• Be familiar with different theoretical perspectives in anthropology

Analytical understanding

• Be able to distinguish between the views of insiders and outsiders, often referred to as emic and etic perspectives
• Be able to critically analyse the outputs of the team fieldwork
• Be able to reflect critically on the use of audio-visual tools as part of a methodological approach.
• Be able to compare different theoretical perspectives

Skills and competences

• Be able to make use of different theoretical approaches in the analysis of the same empirical material

Demonstrate how methodology forms part of research

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Lectures (approx. 22 hours) according to a detailed plan. The course will run for 6 weeks.

Course attendance is compulsory, i.e. only valid absences will be approved. A minimum presence of 80 % is required.

Assessment

Paper discussing questions of methodological interest based on experiences from the "mini-fieldwork" conducted as a part of SVF-3101 and the editing of the team-films conducted as part of SVF-3102 (15 pages).

Grading is on the scale of A to F, where F=Fail.

If failed it is possible to re-sit the examination in the spring semester.

Recommended reading/syllabus

400 pages and 8 ethnographic films.

A reading list of 400 pages will be presented at the beginning of the spring semester. In addition the students will watch and analyse 8 ethnographic films.