Ethnographic Methods, 6 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master Programme in Cognitive Science

Entry requirements

For admission to the course, admission to the Master's Programme in Cognitive Science is required.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• apply the most important concepts and perspectives in ethnographic method
• be aware of the various types of problems that may arise in fieldwork and be able to handle them
• analyse data that has been generated by ethnographic method
• be familiar with the history of the ethnographic method, account for its relation to other method traditions and be orientated in the science-critical debate regarding the ethnographic method.

Course content

The course is based on parts that combine placement and theory. This implies exercises on different aspects of the ethnographic method, such as fieldwork and exercise in analysis of data generated by the ethnographic method. The course also includes an overview of the history of the ethnographic method, its position and importance to anthropology and other sciences and its relation to other method traditions. Other questions that are covered are the science-critical debate regarding the ethnographic method, and questions of how the method can be developed.

Teaching and working methods

The teaching takes the form of lectures, written assignments and compulsory seminars. The students should also study independently.

Examination

The course is examined through written assignments that are discussed in seminars and a final comprehensive written assignment. Active participation at the seminars is compulsory. Detailed information can be found in the study guide.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it. If the coordinator has instead recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus.

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department