72420 - Tecniques of Ethnographical Research (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will know the main methodologies of ethnographic research; they will be able to elaborate autonomous field projects and to identify the most suitable methods for specific research contexts; they will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of specific analytical instruments in contexts varied both historically and culturally.

Course contents

Beginning of classes: 3rd February 2019

 

Mondays 17-19 aula IV, Via Zamboni, 38.

Tuesdays 13-15 aula IV, Via Zamboni, 38.

Wednesday 9-11 aula IV, Via Zamboni, 38.

 

The course provides students with a set of tools concerning languages, forms of knowledge, experiences that are useful to face and understand ethnographic research.

During classes a wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches to field research will be presented; the relationship between the ethnographer and his interlocutors with particular emphasis on collaborative and participative research; the ethical aspects that characterize the fieldwork and that emerge during it.

Students attending the course will be introduced to experiences of fieldwork, carried out in groups over the semester, and agreed upon by the instructor. The activities are meant to think about the competences and learning processes that characterize the ethnographic experience, and about the complexities characterizing field research.

The monographic part of the course will be centered around experiences of applied research on the relationship between adolescents, new technologies and social media.

Readings/Bibliography

For students who attend regularly the course (mandatory readings):

1. Malighetti, R. e Molinari, A., 2016, Il metodo e l'antropologia. Il contributo di una scienza inquieta, Milano, Cortina (only those parts that will be indicated during the course).
2. Bonetti Roberta, 2019,  Etnografie in bottiglia. Apprendere per relazioni nei contesti educativi. Milano, Meltemi.
3. Sherry T., 2016, La conversazione necessaria. La forza del dialogo nell'era digitale. Torino, Einaudi. In substitution of Turtkle, you should read Boyd D. 2018, It's complicated. La vita sociale degli adolescenti sul web. Roma, Castelvecchi.

For students who cannot attend classes (mandatory readings):

1. Malighetti, R. e Molinari, A., 2016, Il metodo e l'antropologia. Il contributo di una scienza inquieta, Milano, Cortina.
2. Bonetti Roberta, 2019, Etnografie in bottiglia. Apprendere per relazioni nei contesti educativi. Milano, Meltemi.
3. Sherry T., 2016, La conversazione necessaria. La forza del dialogo nell'era digitale. Torino, Einaudi. In alternativa Boyd D. 2018, It's complicated. La vita sociale degli adolescenti sul web. Roma, Castelvecchi.

Suggested further readings (not mandatory):

Bianco C., 1994, Dall’evento al documento. Orientamenti etnografici, Cisu, Roma.

Clifford J. e Marcus G., 2005, Scrivere le culture. Poetiche e politiche dell'etnografia. Meltemi.

Corbetta P., 2003, La ricerca sociale: metodologia e tecniche. volumi I e III, Il Mulino, Bologna.

Duranti A., 1992, Etnografia del parlare quotidiano, Nuova Italia Scientifica.

Fabietti U., 1998, Etnografia e culture. Antropologi, informatori e politiche dell’identità, Carocci, Roma.

Favole A., 2018. Vie di fuga. Otto passi per uscire dalla propria cultura. Bologna, UTET.

F. Faeta, 2011, Le ragioni dello sguardo. Pratiche dell'osservazione, della rappresentazione e della memoria, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino.

Malighetti, R. e Molinari, A., 2016, Il metodo e l'antropologia. Il contributo di una scienza inquieta, Milano, Cortina.

Manoukian S. 2003, Etno-grafie: testi, oggetti, immagini, Meltemi.

Pennacini, C. (a cura di), 2010, La ricerca sul campo in antropologia. Oggetti e metodi, Roma, Carocci.

Piasere, Leonardo, L'etnografo imperfetto. Esperienza e cognizione in antropologia. Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2018.

Teaching methods

A wide range of methodologies of teaching will be used to meet a varied set of needs and requests of students. The course will be conducted in a seminar-like fashion, with readings, presentations of ethnographic cases and film watchings. An active participation of students is requested, together with their willingness to contribute to the discussion of texts to be studied for the final exam.

Students will carry out individual and group activities, experiences of observation/listening, interviews, presentations and discussions of results of research, in a shared modality.

Assessment methods

The student will have to hold an individual oral exam on the basis of the suggested bibliography, of the notes from the lectures and of the contributions made by their fellow classmates in class.

The final evaluation is cumulative and will keep into account the students' involvement in any phase of the formative process. Active participation in class and to the activities and group workshops will be integral part of the final evaluation.

In particular, the following items will be tested:

knowledge and theoretical/methodological apprenticeship of basic notions and pratical experiences.

command of elements of theoretical knowledge of practical aspects as provided by the bibliographical leads;

capacity to critically scrutinize, observe, describe and analyze the various topics debated in the course;

the student's ability to critically integrate any topics debated in class, their critical use and the command of the scientific language will award them notes of excellence.

Office hours

See the website of Roberta Bonetti