Universität Wien

240507 SE MM2 Fieldwork methods for field school Alaska (2025S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 24 - Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie
Continuous assessment of course work

The course can only be taken together with PR 240510 (10 ECTS) and you need to register for both courses.

Participation at first session is obligatory!

The lecturer can invite students to a grade-relevant discussion about partial achievements. Partial achievements that are obtained by fraud or plagiarized result in the non-evaluation of the course (entry 'X' in certificate). The plagiarism software 'Turnitin' will be used.
The use of AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) for the attainment of partial achievements is only allowed if explicitly requested by the course instructor.
Moodle
Mo 23.06. 11:30-14:45 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

This course is primarily intended for people participating in the Field School Alaska (field trip in May 2025). In exceptional cases, the participation of other students may be possible.

  • Monday 03.03. 11:30 - 14:45 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 10.03. 11:30 - 14:45 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 17.03. 11:30 - 14:45 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 31.03. 11:30 - 14:45 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 07.04. 11:30 - 14:45 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Wednesday 09.04. 11:30 - 14:45 Sitzungs-/Prüfungszimmer, NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 28.04. 11:30 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Wednesday 30.04. 11:30 - 14:45 Sitzungs-/Prüfungszimmer, NIG 4. Stock
  • Wednesday 04.06. 11:30 - 14:45 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The main goal of the course is to provide an introduction to anthropological research methods and to learn how to use these methods in practice. Furthermore, the course will provide methodological preparation for and follow-up to fieldwork in Alaska. Thus, it should be considered as complimentary to the parallel course devoted to fieldwork in Alaska. The combined meetings before the field school – that is, before May – will be focused on data collection. The meetings after returning from Alaska – that is in June – will be dedicated to a compilation and first analysis of data collected in Alaska. Please note that a separate follow-up course devoted to in-depth analysis, interpretation and write-up of empirical field data resulting from anthropological fieldwork will be offered in winter semester 2025/26.

Assessment and permitted materials

The initial 25% of the grade can be earned by completing a fieldwork plan before departing for Alaska. It should include a description of the project, an interview guide and list of contacts. The second 25% will be earned during fieldwork in Alaska (or through documented data collection elsewhere) by executing the fieldwork plan. The remaining 50% of the grade will be earned through a short paper detailing fieldwork, including its methodological part and a description of the data collected.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

In order to receive a passing grade, you need at least 60 points. A 'sehr gut' requires at least 90 out of 100 points (a 'gut' at least 80 points, etc.). Attendance is required throughout the semester. The course will have seminar character.

Examination topics

There will be no exams.

Reading list

General reading relevant for fieldwork methods (additional reading will be provided):

Atkinson, P. (2015). For Ethnography. London: Sage.
Beer, B. (2003). Methoden und Techniken der Feldforschung. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer Verlag.
Bernard, R.H. (1998). Handbook of Methods in Cultural Anthropology. Walnut Creek: Alta Mira.
Bernard, R.H. (2011) Research Methods in Anthropology. Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Lanham: Alta Mira Press.
Blasco, P. G. & Wardle, H. (2007). How to Read Ethnography. New York: Routledge.
Clark, C.D. (2011). In A Younger Voice: Doing Children´s Qualitative Research. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds.) (1994). Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
De Walt, K. M., & DeWalt, B. R. (2011). Participant Observation: A Guide for Fieldworkers. Lanham: AltaMira Press.
Emerson, R.M.; Fretz, R.I. & Shaw, L.L. (1995). Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Flick, U. (2014). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Data Analysis. London: Sage.
Glaser, B.G. & Strauss, A.L. (1967). The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies of Qualitative Research. Chicago: Aldine.
Gupta, A. & Ferguson, J. (1997). Anthropological Locations. Boundaries and Grounds of a Field Science. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Hammersley, M. & Atkison, P. (1995). Ethnography: Principles in Practice. London: Routledge.
Hunleth, J. (2011). Beyond on or with: Questioning power dynamics and knowledge production in ´child-oriented´ research methodology. Childhood 18 (1): 81-93.
Iphofen, R. (2011). Ethical decision-Making in Social Research. A Practical Guide. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
Kvale, S. (1996). Interviews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Rivoal, I. & Salazar, N. (2013). Contemporary Ethnographic Practice and the Value of Serendipity. Social Anthropology 21 (2):178-185.
Robben, A.C.G.M. & Sluka, Jeffery A. (2012). Ethnographic Fieldwork. An Anthropological Reader. Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.
Skinner, J. (2012). The Interview. An Ethnographic Approach. London: Berg.
Silverman, D. (2014). Interpreting Qualitative Data. London: Sage.
Silverman, D. (2013). Doing qualitative research. Los Angeles: Sage.
Spradley, J. P. (1979). The Ethnographic Interview. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 04.03.2025 00:02