Field Methods and Research Design

ANTH 315: Anthropological Field Methods and Research Design
Spring 2003, T/Th, 3:30-4:45, Hibbs 429
Dr. Christina Turner, cturner@vcu.edu, http://www.people.vcu.edu/~cturner

PLEASE NOTE: There is a prerequisite of ANTH 103: Cultural Anthropology (or its equivalent) for this course that will be strictly adhered to. please do not ask for an exemption. Experience in a previous writing intensive course is strongly recommended.

Course Description:

This course is an overview of quantitative and qualitative anthropological field techniques as well as the ethical dimension of anthropological fieldwork. Basics of research design, effective methodology, and writing grant proposals.

Goals:

The course objectives are to introduce students to the concepts of anthropological field techniques and how to construct an effective research design. You will learn to develop a workable methodology to adequately address your research design and to prepare a competitive grant proposal. The ultimate goal, as always, is to learn to think analytically, to grasp the range of human adaptability, and to reinforce tolerance for the differences found in today's interdependent world.

Texts:

1. Crane, Julia G., and Michael V. Angrosino, 1992, Field Projects in Anthropology. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.

2. Berdan, Frances F., Edward A. Stark, and Carey Van Loon, 2002, EthnoQuest. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

(Optional) Kottak, Conrad Phillip, ed., 1995, Researching American Culture, A Guide for Student Anthropologists. University of Michigan Press.

(Optional) Pelto, Pertti J., and Gretel H. Pelto, 1978, Anthropological Research, The Structure of Inquiry. Cambridge University Press.

Course Structure:

I.	Introduction--Discussion of field techniques, ethics, case studies.
II.	Experiential Research--Students will attempt various small research projects using the field techniques and methodologies deemed most appropriate. The class will then have open discussions on the success or failures of the projects, how they might have been improved, etc. Each student will submit his or her raw data and summary report.
III.	Research Design--Students will begin their own research designs and proposals while class time will be devoted to more detailed research techniques and a discussion of approaches and techniques that might be relevant as the students develop their proposals.
IV.	Class Presentations and Discussion--Students will present their work orally as well as a written version for evaluation and discussion by their peers.

Projects:

You will need a field notebook or folder with loose sheets of paper for field notes and written projects. Field notes should appear as taken in the field, but the write-up should be more formal and type-written. Research proposals should follow standard anthropological style (http://www.people.vcu.edu/~cturner/guide) and the dictates of the granting agency. You will be supplied with the granting agency research proposal forms. American Anthropology Association Style Guide

Evaluation:

Students will be evaluated on the basis of class participation, their field reports, their research design and grant proposal, and their evaluation of the peers’ research designs and grant proposals. You are expected to behave professionally and ethically at all times. In the following order:
Projects: 65% of grade (includes written work and class presentations); Research design and grant proposal: 30% of grade (includes presentation); Evaluations of peers' research designs and grant proposals: 5% (includes discussion). I will provide you with feedback as the class progresses and student discussions will also clarify how students are doing in the course.

BLACKBOARD 5:

I will email important class information to you using the email function of Blackboard. You will be expected to access Blackboard and make sure that your email address is correct. Your grades will be posted on Blackboard and I will also post additional course information on occasion. If your email information is not correct, then I can not contact you. The dates that you will see indicate when I posted the information and are not important for you. The same is true for the "points" earned. I am not using a point system, but Blackboard automatically posts a value- don't worry about it.
There are various avenues to finding what you need for class. - go to my personal web page: http://www.people.vcu.edu/~cturner, then click on whichever syllabus you need. You can enter into My Blackboard by clicking on the link from my web page, typing in the url for the home page: http://blackboard.vcu.edu, or go there from VCU's home page. Click on "courses" (right under the banner) and then on "Blackboard CourseInfo" (third selection down) and proceed to logon. You will need a user ID and a password to logon to Blackboard. Your user ID is the first part of your VCU email address (before the @ symbol). Your password is your is the same as your VCU email password. If you do not know your VCU email password, you can call the University Computer Services (UCS) help desk (828-2227) for help or find it online from the opening Blackboard page. Once you enter your Blackboard 5 account, please check your email address and supply your favored address, if necessary. You can do this by clicking on Bb5 Help for Students on the opening page, Student Help Screen, Getting Help With Your Email Account and arranging to forward your VCU account mail to the personal email address you prefer to use. You can also learn your VCU email address and password here (and change your password). It is important that you do this as I will be sending some class information and assignment instructions to you through the Blackboard email function. Once you are in the appropriate course area, you can access my web page and your syllabus with a simple click on the syllabus link. In addition, it is in this protected section of the web where your grades are recorded and your student functions (such as drop box and email communication) are found. I have prepared a Powerpoint presentation that guides you through the steps needed to accomplish this.

VCU Honor System:

"Virginia Commonwealth University recognizes that honesty, truth, and integrity are values central to its mission as an institution of higher education" (VCU Resource Guide, 1995-96, pg. 51). I also recognize this and will provide an environment that is conducive to academic integrity. I am required to report any infractions of the Code to the Honor's Board, no matter what the circumstances.

PLAGIARISM:

	Plagiarism in any sense of the word is unethical and defeats the purpose of learning. The Guide to Writing Research Papers discusses plagiarism and what it entails, as does the VCU Resource Guide. I will report any transgressions or plagiarism of any sort to the Honor Board. If you are found guilty, you will fail the course with a written notation on your transcript that the failure was due to an honor's violation. You should be conversant with the section titled "VCU Honor System" located in your "VCU Resource Guide."

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES:

	"It is the policy of VCU to accord students, on an individual basis, the opportunity to observe their traditional religious holidays" (VCU Undergraduate Bulletin, 1994-1996, pg. 52). If you need to be excused for religious reasons, please inform me in a timely manner.

HOW TO FIND THE PROF:

	Wednesday 2-3:30, and by appointment. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Lafayette Hall, corner of Grace and Shafer Sts., office 305, cturner@vcu.edu.

Week	Date	Assignment

1	1/14	Introduction [exec] B-16
	1/16	Introduction to Field Work/ Methodology Crane and Angrosino, pgs. v-29. Project #1: Proxemics (in text).
2	1/21	Project #1 due. Reports on project. Crane and Angrosino, pgs. 30-43. Project #2: Using information from your reading, map the area within the boundaries of Belvidere, Broad, 1^st St., and the Downtown Expressway. You should include a written description of the area mapped and what you found there. [FS]
	1/23	Rice Plantation field visit-directions to be posted
3	1/28	Field work slides, observational exercise. Project #2 due. Class discussion of projects. [exec]
	1/30	Crane and Angrosino, pgs. 44-52. Discussion of kinship mapping and practice doing so.
4	2/04	Crane and Angrosino, pgs. 64-97. Project #3: Participant Observation. Using information from class and your text, conduct a period of participant observation at the Science Museum and record your experience. Start by setting up a loose leaf fieldwork notebook, make your observations and record the data, then write up your field notes. You will need to submit your raw data, as well as the more polished field notes. You should have at least ten typed pages of notes for this assignment. [FS]
	2/06	Deciding on methodology- How to elicit the information you are seeking. Does my methodology really elicit the information that I need? Class exercise using a real field situation. [UC]
5	2/11	Project #3 due. Reports on project. Crane and Angrosino, pgs. 53- 63. Project #4: Interviews with ESL student of your choice. As usual, make field notes and then formally write up your field notes. Make sure you are finding out about your informants, not yourself through the filter of your informants. You should have at least ten double-spaced pages for formal notes. [FS]
	2/13	Guest lecturer- Christopher Brooks
6	2/18	Project #5: Using your same informants, elicit a geneology and prepare a kinship chart using the appropriate terminology and information. Project #4 due. Reports on project. Crane and Angrosino, pgs. 98-107.
	2/20	Library Day. MACLAS. B-16
7	2/25	Project #5 due. Reports on project. Crane and Angrosino, pgs. 108-135. Project #6: Project #6: Do a cultural history project. There are a number of variations that you can devise, including changes in children's books, topics treated by Ann Landers, changes in the contributors listed in "Natural History," etc. Prepare a written assessment of the significance of your findings.
	2/27	Crane and Angrosino, pgs. 136-149. Research proposal and methodology. Guest lecture, Brian Turner, Randolph-Macon College.
8	3/04	Project #6 due. Reports on project. Class discussion of research ideas- make sure you have one! Project #7: Bus project. Field trip. Bring bus fare. [FS]
	3/06	Project #7: Bus project. Mini-research project, set up hypothesis and methodology, collect and record data, write up project. Discussion. [UC]
9	3/11	*SPRING BREAK!*
	3/13	*SPRING BREAK!*
10	3/18	Project #7 due. Reports on project. Crane and Angrosino, pgs. 150-189. Project #8: First draft of your research proposal. [exec]
	3/20	Last withdrawal day tomorrow. Sample research proposals.
11	3/25	Project #8 due. Class discussion of research proposals. Bring review of literature notes and preliminary methodology to class. Project #9: Gender. Use the information from class, set up a hypothesis and methodology, collect and record data, write up project.
	3/27	LASA--Work on research projects.
12	4/01	Project #9 due. Reports on project. Sociolinguistics lecture. Project #10: Sociolinguistic project. Using information given in class and from the readings, set up a hypothesis and methodology, collect and record data, write up project. [FS]
	4/03	The dreaded granting agency forms. How to complete them and how to get it right. [UC]
13	4/08	Project #10 due. Discussion of project results.
	4/10	EthnoQuest- B-16
14	4/15	EthnoQuest [exec]- B-16
	4/17	Research proposals due. You will need to provide a copy for other students in the class as your colleagues will be evaluating your work as if they were on the board of the granting agency. You will do the same for them. If you cannot afford to make these copies, give me a copy early enough to copy them for you.
15	4/22	Tales from the Field.
	4/24	Research presentations and interviews. Everyone should be prepared to interview their colleagues about their research projects.
16	4/29	Last class. Research presentations and interviews. Everyone should be prepared to interview their colleagues about their research projects.
	5/08	Final exam date. Evaluations of research projects due. Final discussion of projects.

*Note: Syllabus is subject to change.*