Übung Preparing for Fieldwork - Dr. Pablo Holwitt
The aim of the course is to provide participants with a critical and practice-based understanding of ethnographic fieldwork. The great methodical variety of empirical data collection (e.g., interviews, participant observation, fieldnotes, visual anthropology) will be explained and tested in a practical manner. Furthermore, the course discusses the ethics of research and the behaviour of the researcher regarding "his/her" examination field. Participants will be introduced to particular characteristics of ethnographic research such as reflexivity, change of perspective, the framing of a field, fieldwork rapport, embodied experiences and writing practices.
The course is broadly structured around the chapters of the book Being ethnographic by Raymond Madden which we will read and discuss together. Additionally, research simulations and small assignments shall enable participants to directly apply and train established methods of ethnographic research. As part of module 5 of the MA-program ”Social Anthropology”, the course is primarily directed at students who are in the process of planning an independent research project to conclude their master´s degree.
The course will usually be held bi-weekly. Participants are expected to complete the required readings, contribute to common discussions and take part in assignments.
Introductory literature:
Beer, Bettina; König, Anika (Hrsg. 2020): Methoden ethnologischer Feldforschung (3. Auflage). Berlin: Dietrich Reimer Verlag.
Bernard, H. Russell (2006): Research methods in anthropology: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Lanham et al.: Altamira Press.
Brewer, John D. (2000): Ethnography. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Madden, Raymond (2010): Being ethnographic. A guide to the theory and practice of ethnography. Los Angeles et al.: Sage.
- Lehrende/r: Pablo Holwitt