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

The course aims to address the topic of research techniques from both a historical and methodological point of view.
In particular, the following topics will be taken into consideration: the relationship between the ethnographer and his interlocutors with particular reference to collaborative and participatory research; the ethical and deontological aspects that characterise the investigation and that emerge in the course of it, the drafting of the diary and field notes, the different types of interviews, the biographical method.
A number of introductory fieldwork experiences are planned for the participants. The activities are aimed at a reflection on the skills and learning processes that characterise the ethnographic experience together with a critical reflection on the complexity that characterises field research.

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE: ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH

FOR FREQUENT STUDENTS: setting up the work and reading the proposals

THE FIELD DIARY AND FIELD NOTES

PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

THE INTERVIEWS

LIFE STORIES

WORKING WITH LIVES ETHNOGRAPHIC EXAMPLE

PHOTOGRAPHS AND DOCUMENTARY

ANTHROPOLOGISTS' COLLABORATORS: INFORMANTS?

FIELD RESEARCH IS NOT NEUTRAL

ETHICS OF FIELD RESEARCH

HOW TO FIND BIBLIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Readings/Bibliography

REQUIRED TEXTS FOR ATTENDING AND NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS WHO DO NOT DO THE PROPOSED WORK IN CLASS:

1.Pavanello M., 2010, Fare Antropologia. Metodi per la ricerca etnografica. Bologna, Zanichelli.

2. Pennacini, C. (a cura di), 2010, La ricerca sul campo in antropologia. Oggetti e metodi, Roma, Carocci. INTRODUZIONE, CAPITOLO 4. CAPITOLO 5. CAPITOLO 7

3. Fabietti U., 1998, Etnografia e culture. Antropologi, informatori e politiche dell’identità, Carocci, Roma. INTRODUZIONE, CAPITOLO 1, CAPITOLO 5

4. Franceschi Z.A., Storie di vita. Percorsi nella storia dell'Antropologia americana, Clueb, Bologna, 2006. CAPITOLO 2. CAPITOLO 3. CAPITOLO 4.

FOR THOSE DOING CLASS WORK THAT INVOLVES ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH AND READING SOME OF THE ESSAYS PROPOSED IN CLASS:

 

 

Teaching methods

The course will consist of lectures supported by audio visual material (when required).

At the end of each lecture there will be a concept checking session to ensure students’ understanding of the themes and issues covered, which will also allow active student participation.

Assessment methods

The final exam will be an oral one, with questions aimed to verify the student's knowledge of the themes discussed during frontal lessons (only for students that participated in classwork) as well as those treated in the program's texts.

In marking the following assessment criteria will be applied:

30 cum Laude: exceptional exam, solid knowledge, articulate discursive skills, expressive competence, and ability to synthesize.

30: outstanding result, adequate and appropriate knowledge, well-articulated and correctly expressed notions. Good ability to synthesize.

29-27: good exam, more than adequate knowledge, good capacity for expression. Fair ability to synthesize

26-24: fair exam, basic but not exhaustive knowledge, and or not consistently well articulated. Sufficient ability to synthesize.

23-21: passable exam, general but superficial knowledge; limited capacity for expression and confused discourse management. Passable ability to synthesize.

20-18: barely passable exam, discourse management and expressions demonstrating inadequate knowledge. Modest ability to synthesize.

<18: inadequate exam, deficient or severely inadequate knowledge, lack of bearing as regards the subject matter.

Teaching tools

The frontal lessons will be supported by Power Point presentations. The Power Point presentation will be uploaded in the “Teaching materials” section of this website.

Office hours

See the website of Zelda Alice Franceschi