University of Edinburgh
| University of Edinburgh | |
|---|---|
| University of Edinburgh Old College South Bridge Edinburgh Scotland EH8 9YL | Telephone : 0131 650 1000 Email : communications.office@ed.ac.uk Website : University of Edinburgh |
| School of Social and Political Studies : Qualitative Methods: Ethnographic Fieldwork | |
| Description: | The aim is to approach the main issues in the collection of qualitative data using ethnographic fieldwork through a brief review of conceptual and methodological issues, and a substantial practical component. All the assessment for this course will be through the writing of brief reports on periods of participant observation carried out during the term. At the end of the course, students should: * be able to carry out participant observation * be reflexive about the conduct of qualitative research, and be able to assess critically other pieces of research carried out in this tradition * be aware of the main ethical and theoretical issues raised by this research method |
| Contact: | Graduate School of Social and Political Science |
| Telephone: | 0131 651 3009/1560 Fax: 0131 651 1778 |
| Email: | gradschool.sps@ed.ac.uk |
| Entry Requirements: | The course is designed for those students who already know they expect to use ethnographic fieldwork, either in their 'home' cultures or 'abroad' for their MSc dissertations or MPhil/PhD research. It is not an introduction to the idea of qualitative research or ethnography, but assumes students already have exposure to some teaching of qualitative research methods in the social sciences. Intending students must attend the first session. |
| Venue: | To be arranged |
| Further Information: | Spring term weeks 1-10 Mondays 11.00 - 1.00 |
| Website: | http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/gradschool/research_training/qualitative_methods_ethnographic_fieldwork.php |
| Keywords/Speciality | After a general introduction (week 2) the course will discuss exemplars of writing based on ethnographic fieldwork (weeks 3 and 4). By the end of this period students should have established research sites where they can conduct regular periods of fieldwork through the rest of the term. The following sessions will cover topics arising from the experience of the fieldwork, including issues such as access, ethics, the 'voice' of fieldnotes, different kinds of fieldnotes, and issues of reactivity. |