OVERVIEW

Fieldwork: methodology matters

Proff. Gaia Cottino and Marco Aime The seminar aims at offering the rudiments of the ethnographic research methodology through 6 encounters.

Seminars and initiatives providing CFUs are learning activities offered by the Department of Political and International Sciences as part of the “Other Activities” to be included in the study plan. At the beginning of each academic year, the Department publishes on its website a list of activities related to each seminar so that each student can choose which seminar activities to include in his/her study plan for a total of 3 CFU. These 3 CFU can be reached by combining seminars from the same or different disciplines at the total discretion of the student. In addition, seminars and initiatives providing CFUs may also be chosen as “Student Choice Activities”.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This ethno-anthropological seminar tackles the stories, techniques, and methodologies of qualitative research, and ethnographic research more specifically, in the time lapse that spans from the first fieldsite researchers' ventures till the contemporary times. The seminar aims at offering the rudiments of the ethnographic research methodology and some key instruments to study social phenomena in current times.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The learning outcomes of the seminar are the following: 

1. Knowledge of the historical phases of ethnographic research

2. Capacity to enumerate and analize the instruments composing the "toolbox" of any anthropologist

3. Competency in defining and recognizing the key elements of a life history

4. Acquisition of an autoreflexive and anti-ethnocentrically functional to ethnographic wiriting 

5. Set up of a semi-structured qualitative interview guideline

PREREQUISITES

None

TEACHING METHODS

Classes will be held in a seminar mode, ancd are characterized by an interplay of face to face lessons, participatory exercises in class, homework and the final elaboration of a written essay.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The seminar is organized around 6 meetings of 3 hours each, the last of which will be focused on the elaboration of a  final essay:

1. Introduction to fieldwork: what does it mean to carry out ethnography?

2. Carrying out research in Oceania

3. Carrying out research in Africa

4. Carrying out research in South America

5. From fieldwork to homework: carrying out ethnography in the Alps

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bibliographic information will be provided the first day of class

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GAIA COTTINO (President)

SALVATORE BRUNO BARBA

MARCO AIME (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Mid October

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written Essay: final essay on a topic agreed with the professor

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Asessment is based on both the participation to class and the final written essay

Exam schedule