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240538 VU MM4 Visual Methods for Anthropologists (2025W)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
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.
The use of AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) for the attainment of partial achievements is only allowed if explicitly requested by the course instructor.
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).
- Registration is open from Mo 01.09.2025 00:01 to Mo 22.09.2025 23:59
- Deregistration possible until Mo 20.10.2025 23:59
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
UPDATE 10.10.2025: changed dates
UPDATE 09.01.2025: changed dates
- Thursday 16.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
- Thursday 30.10. 11:30 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
- Thursday 13.11. 11:30 - 14:45 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
- Thursday 20.11. 11:30 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
- Thursday 04.12. 11:30 - 14:45 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
- Thursday 18.12. 11:30 - 14:45 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
- Thursday 29.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
The assessment consists of two fieldwork assignments, each worth 50% of the final grade.Each fieldwork assignment results in a fieldwork report with a visual appendix. The text consists of a methodological description, which explains the methods and findings of the own fieldwork project in the light of key ideas from the compulsory readings and workshops . The visual appendix can for example be a series of images analysed, a series of photos created in a participatory fieldwork project, an observational video recording of a fieldwork situation, or a a series of drawn or digital maps.During the workshops and fieldwork assignments, students will work with their own equipment but can also borrow equipment of the Vienna Visual Anthropology Lab (www.vval.univie.ac.at). Students will be introduced to the Lab’s facilities during the course. The Lab’s coordinator, Paul Katterl, will be available for technical support during the opening hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at NIG Room A0421, 4th floor, by phone (+43-1-4277-495 55) or email (video.ksa@univie.ac.at).
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Presence and active participation is compulsory.The course takes place in person. Only in exceptional cases is online participation possible (e.g. in case of positive Covid test results). This must be discussed with the lecturer in advance.Students who miss the first session of the course will be automatically de-registered.Absences for one workshop of three hours at maximum is tolerated, provided that the lecturer is informed about the absence. Absences of up to six hours in total (two workshops) may in some cases be compensated, if previously agreed with the lecturer, by a deduction of grading points or extra work agreed with the lecturer. Whether compensation is possible, is decided by the lecturer. Absences of more than two workshops in total cannot be compensated.The student is accountable for the content of the assignment and the assignment must be the student’s own work and idea. The use of AI (e.g., Chat GPT or comparable software) is not allowed for the analysing, editing, creating or revising of texts and images. If you plan to use AI in other ways, consult with the lecturer first. For example, it is allowed to transcribe interviews, but only if GDPR-compliant software is used. If you use AI in your assignments, this should be acknowledged as a note within the submitted work openly and clearly, so that the instructor is aware of where and to what extent the AI tool was used. To make this assessment possible, the exact questions / prompts given to ChatGPT must be recorded and submitted along with the assignment.This course uses the plagiarism-detection service Turnitin. If any requirement of the course has been fulfilled by fraudulent means, be it for example by plagiarizing parts of a written assignment, the student's participation in the course will be discontinued, the entire course will be graded as ‘not assessed’ and will be entered into the electronic exam record as ‘fraudulently obtained’. Self-plagiarism, particularly re-using own work handed in for other courses, will be treated likewise.A = 1 (Very Good): 87 - 100%
B = 2 (Good): 75 - 86,99%
C = 3 (Satisfactory): 63 - 74,99%
D = 4 (Enough): 50 - 62,99%
F = 5 (Not Enough): 00 - 49,99%
B = 2 (Good): 75 - 86,99%
C = 3 (Satisfactory): 63 - 74,99%
D = 4 (Enough): 50 - 62,99%
F = 5 (Not Enough): 00 - 49,99%
Examination topics
-understanding and ability to apply principles of ethnographic and participatory research methods, including the ability to articulate a research question that can be addressed through ethnographic / participatory research
-ability to collect, analyse and interpret existing images (using discourse analysis and elicitation)
-ability to employ visual practices in ethnographic research (photography, videography, map-making)
-ability to write in a detailed and transparant manner about the procedures, challenges and outcomes of a research project; ability to practice methodological reflexivity
-evidence of knowledge about relevant research ethics guidelines and legal regulation, and the ability to apply these
-overall knowledge of the compulsory literature and media examples, active participation in the workshops and fieldwork assignments
-ability to collect, analyse and interpret existing images (using discourse analysis and elicitation)
-ability to employ visual practices in ethnographic research (photography, videography, map-making)
-ability to write in a detailed and transparant manner about the procedures, challenges and outcomes of a research project; ability to practice methodological reflexivity
-evidence of knowledge about relevant research ethics guidelines and legal regulation, and the ability to apply these
-overall knowledge of the compulsory literature and media examples, active participation in the workshops and fieldwork assignments
Reading list
Marcus Banks. 2001. Visual Methods in Social Research. London/ Thousand Oaks/ New Delhi: Sage.
Aline Gubrium, Krista Harper, and Marty Otanez. 2015. Participatory Visual and Digital Research in Action. London: Routledge.
Andy Lawrence. 2020. Filmmaking for Fieldwork: A Practical Handbook. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Gillian Rose. 2023. Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to Researching with Visual Materials. Thousand Oaks/New Delhi: Sage.
Aline Gubrium, Krista Harper, and Marty Otanez. 2015. Participatory Visual and Digital Research in Action. London: Routledge.
Andy Lawrence. 2020. Filmmaking for Fieldwork: A Practical Handbook. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Gillian Rose. 2023. Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to Researching with Visual Materials. Thousand Oaks/New Delhi: Sage.
Association in the course directory
Last modified: Mo 27.07.2026 09:27
-have widened their knowledge about principles and practices of ethnographic research, specifically about the use of visual methods in ethnographic and participatory research;
-have gained knowledge about and experience with the following visual methods: discourse analysis of existing images, elicitation interviews with historical images, participatory map-making, participatory photography, and observational videography;
-have critically reflected on the possible affordances and drawbacks of these methods;
-have gained knowledge about discipline-specific research ethics guidelines and legal regulation that apply when using images in anthropological research.These learning outcomes will enable students to develop a methodology for their own independent Ma research and to write the methodological section of their Ma research concept.Course set-up
The course is taught through five workshops, each of which focusses on one specific visual method. Before the workshops, students will prepare by reading literature or studying visual sources. Students will choose two of the introduced methods for an independent fieldwork assignment that will be carried out individually by each student outside of class hours. The sixth workshop focusses on ethical and legal aspects of working with images. Prior to the sixth workshop, students submit a research design for their fieldwork so that the implications can be discussed concretely. After the last workshop, students submit the fieldwork assignments, which will include a research ethics assessment.