Anthro 4169/5169: Ethnographic Methods

We will begin with an introduction to research design, and will then devote the first half of the term to learning techniques of behavior observation and interviewing. Observation techniques will be learned through a class project observing children. Interviewing techniques will be learned through an individual oral history interview and a class exercise in writing good questions for semi-structured and structured interviews and questionnaires. During the remaining weeks of the term, students will work on a fieldwork project of their own choice. Class time during this period will be devoted to discussion about student projects, practical fieldwork issues, and lectures on other fieldwork techniques.

Please review the Guidelines for the Final project report. I have revised and expanded the last three pages to show you how to present results if you don't know any statistics.

How many people should you interview or observe?

• For the final project: Since this is a class exercise, enough to show me that you have put in a good effort (so, more for a self-administered survey than an intensive interview). In most cases, you will not have a large enough sample to draw conclusions, but you will have enough preliminary data to help you design a real study.

• For real research: The broader question of "how many participants" you need in order to feel confident in your conclusions is important, and it has an answer. For an introduction to the topic see the following from "Statistics Done Wrong" by Alex Reinhart.
  • An introduction to data analysis. (if you haven't had any statistics).
  • Statistical power and underpowered statistics

Assignments

1. U of U article review, submit to turnitin (Aug 30)
2. Research design ("Hack your way to scientific glory"), submit to turnitin (Sept 6)
3. observation study 1 submit to turnitin -- it is at the very bottom of the assignment list (Sept 20)
4. observation study 2, systematic observation (complete by Sept 27, no turnitin)
5. code observation data according to the code we develop in class (instructions will be posted tomorrow) and prepare a behavior observation critique , submit to turnitin (Oct 4)
6. oral history interviews, submit to turnitin (Oct 18)
7. Question construction assignment
   • Part 1: Question design part 1 (submit to google group before 8am, Saturday Oct 21)
   • Part 2: Question critique (submit to turnitin by Tuesday Oct 24)
   • Part 3: Question revision (submit to turnitin by Friday Oct 27; grade based on parts 2 and 3)
8. proposal 1: project aims and background, submit to turnitin (Nov 1)
9. proposal 2: methods submit to turnitin (Nov 8)
10. Cultural domain analysis (see syllabus for description). submit to turnitin (Nov. 29)
11. Final project report (Dec 17, earlier is fine)

Resources

• Syllabus (updated)
• Reporting checklist for qualitative research
• Sample Proposals in cultural anthropology
• Studs Terkel interviews

• Soft Sciences are Harder than Hard Sciences
• The Price of Motherhood
• Hack your way to scientific glory