90529 - METODOLOGIA DELLE SCIENZE SOCIALI

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide advanced methodological tools for empiric research in social sciences. At the end of the course, students possess advanced methodological competencies in social sciences. 

Course contents

The course analyzes qualitative research in social sciences with a focus on ethnography. It discusses the ethnographic ‘field’ as a site and as a practice. Students learn that fieldwork data is not ‘collected’ but ‘produced’ within different historical, geographical, and political contexts and circumstances; it is the result of the relationship between the researcher and the informants. Students also learn that relationships formed on the research field are shaped by external elements such as the policies of funding institutions, and the researcher’s characteristics such as gender, class, ethnicity, and age. Moreover, the course also discusses data collection through in-depth interviews and focus groups and provides the rudiments of visual sociology.

TOPICS

√ QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

√ ANTROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND ART

√ VISUAL SOCIOLOGY

√ ETNOGRAPHY IN AUTORITARIAN CONTEXTS IN CONTESTI AUTORITARI

√ ETNOGRAPHY OF TV SERIES

√ FOCUS GROUP

√ TOOLS FOR QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

√ POSIZIONALITY, REFLEXIBILITIY AND CONSENT

√ ETNOGRAPHY IN HOSPITALS

Readings/Bibliography

Articles can be accessed via username and password on VIRTUALE Educational material (https://virtuale.unibo.it/).

Videos will be available on dropbox.

Teaching methods

Together with the instructor, the students will explore qualitative approaches to research in social sciences. Some guest lecturers will be invited who will discuss their own work, the challenges they met and the epistemological strategies mobilized in order to develop situated knowledge.

Assessment methods

WRITTEN EXAM lasting two hours. Students are required to provide in-depth answers to three open questions based on the topics discussed in class and the texts in the bibliography (at least one page for each topic).

ASSESSMENT SCALE

Very good/excellent: very good knowledge of the topic and ability to critically analyze concepts, articulate themes, and connect different presentations, articles, and visual materials; high competency in the use of the appropriate terminology.

Good: a good knowledge of the topic, ability to critically analyze concepts, good competency in the use of the appropriate terminology.

Fair: mnemonic knowledge of the topics or modest knowledge of the topics and modest competency in the use of the appropriate terminology.

Poor: mnemonic repetition of concepts and texts or limited ability to deal with the topics, poor competency in the use of the appropriate terminology.

Teaching tools

Ppt presentations, visual materials, guest lecturers.

Office hours

See the website of Antonella Ceccagno