Students
ANTH3024 – Doing Ethnography
2020 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Anna-Karina Hermkens
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| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above including (30cp from ANTH units including (10cp from ANTH units at 3000 level))
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
What tools do cultural anthropologists use to observe humans and make sense of their actions in the world? This unit introduces the practical, methodological, and ethical dimensions of ethnographic research. As the primary goal of the unit is to teach students how to conduct ethnographic fieldwork, over the semester students engage in first-hand research projects where they regularly participate in and observe a cultural scene of their own choosing. Weekly meetings frame the fieldwork process as students learn anthropological research methods under the guidance of an experienced staff member, and then apply this knowledge to their ethnographic study. These meetings provide students an opportunity to share their fieldwork experiences with each other, discuss the methodological issues, and workshop concerns raised by their own studies. Simultaneously students will read several classic ethnographies to develop an understanding of the relationship between ethnographic research and ethnographic writing.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Understand and apply a variety of ethnographic research methods.
- ULO2: Conduct ethnographic research.
- ULO3: Apply a variety of qualitative research methods, including interviewing, semantic domain analysis, unobtrusive observation, preparing literature review, and time allocation surveys.
- ULO4: Present research to peers and instructors in written and oral format.
- ULO5: Prepare a sample research proposal for a feasible participant-observation ethnographic study.
- ULO6: Acquire the knowledge and confidence to competently discuss and apply field research techniques relevant for employment as a field researcher.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar participation | 20% | No | Every week |
| Research journal | 15% | No | Every week from week 3 |
| Ethics quiz | 0% | No | Week 3 |
| Ethnographic research paper | 35% | No | Week 13 |
| Research proposal | 20% | No | Week 4 |
| Oral presentation of research | 10% | No | Week 12 and 13 |
Seminar participation
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: Every week
Weighting: 20%
Seminar participation, including discussion preparation guide
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand and apply a variety of ethnographic research methods.
- Acquire the knowledge and confidence to competently discuss and apply field research techniques relevant for employment as a field researcher.
Research journal
Assessment Type 1: Field book
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Every week from week 3
Weighting: 15%
From the third week of class students will be asked to keep a research journal. This should be a participant-observation record of their research activity.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand and apply a variety of ethnographic research methods.
- Conduct ethnographic research.
- Apply a variety of qualitative research methods, including interviewing, semantic domain analysis, unobtrusive observation, preparing literature review, and time allocation surveys.
Ethics quiz
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 4 hours
Due: Week 3
Weighting: 0%
Students will take the online ethics module for social science research and the online quiz at the end of the module.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand and apply a variety of ethnographic research methods.
Ethnographic research paper
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 35%
Students will write an ethnographic research paper of approximately 2,500 words based on the data that they have collected in their ethnographic research journal.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Conduct ethnographic research.
- Present research to peers and instructors in written and oral format.
- Acquire the knowledge and confidence to competently discuss and apply field research techniques relevant for employment as a field researcher.
Research proposal
Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 20%
Research proposals will be original project designs for ethnographic research projects. Your research proposal should be a formal description of the ongoing project of ethnographic description that you are engaged in for this class. Your grade on this assignment will be based on a combination of the research proposal you submit and the feedback you give to your peers.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand and apply a variety of ethnographic research methods.
- Present research to peers and instructors in written and oral format.
- Prepare a sample research proposal for a feasible participant-observation ethnographic study.
Oral presentation of research
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Week 12 and 13
Weighting: 10%
Students will present their research projects in the class in Weeks 12/13.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Present research to peers and instructors in written and oral format.
- Acquire the knowledge and confidence to competently discuss and apply field research techniques relevant for employment as a field researcher.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
The weekly 2-hours seminars will be run on Monday's (starting on the 27th of July)
Time: from 10.00-12.00
Venue: on campus, room to be announced via I-learn
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.