Course
How to Design an Ethnographic Project - 1.2 ECTS
This course gives graduate students the toolset to conceptualize an ethnographic research project from its earliest stages. Students learn about, and create, tailored multidimensional research designs with a focus on conceptual development (not methods). Students will learn how to decide on conceptual hierarchies within a broader ethnographic holism. Key learning outcomes include development of a clear research description that can be used as a starting point for ethnographically-based WASS PhD proposals.
Registration
Learning outcomes:
After successful completion participants are expected to be able to:
- Determine conceptual hierarchies in contexts of ethnographic holism
- Design a multidimensional ethnographic research project that connects general conceptual debates with contextual specificity
- Create an ethnographic research project grid that includes a concise research description, scoping question, and a significance statement
Sessions:
| Day 1 | Friday January 9 |
| Day 2 | Friday January 16 |
| Day 3 | Friday January 23 |
| Day 4 | Friday January 30 |
Programme:
- One weekly seminar over three weeks, plus a concluding seminar in week 4.
Week 1, Day 1:
Read in advance of the seminar:
- Peterson, K., & Olson V. 2024. “Module 1: Imagine the Research.” In 43-68. Durham: Duke University Press.
Seminar:
9:30-10:30 Introduction: Designing an ethnographic project with connectivity, intuition, curiosity, and congruence and identifying a multidimensional object
10:30-10:45: Coffee break
10:45-12:00: Students briefly introduce their respective ethnographic, thesis topic and some of the challenges that they are have encountered with project design so far
12:00-13:00: Lunch
13:00-14:30: How to write an ethnographic ‘research imaginary’? Getting started!
--- End of Formal Programme ---
Rest of week 1 (about 3 hours): Independent study: Draft a complete first draft of ‘research imaginaries’ and ‘concept tables’ and peer-review (written comments) the draft ‘research imaginaries’ and ‘concept tables’ of two other students.
Week 2, Day 2:
Read in advance of the seminar:
- Peterson, K., & Olson V. 2024. “Module 3: Map Concepts” and “Module 4: Create Multidimensional Concept Combos.” In 95-109; 111-137. Durham: Duke University Press.
Seminar:
10:00-10:30: Introductory reflections: From research imaginaries to concept maps
10:30-12:00: Discussion of the ‘research imaginaries’ and ‘concept tables’ drafts and peer-reviews
12:00-13:00: Lunch
13:00-14:30: How to make an ethnographic concept map and creating multidimensional concept combos? Connecting context and concepts
--- End of Formal Programme ---
Rest of week 2 (about 3 hours): Independent study: Develop a 1st Draft ‘Concept Map’ based on exercise 3a (Working Graphically), 3b (Concept Map), 3c (Ethnographic Connections), 4b (Concept Combos) from modules 3 and 4 and peer-review (written comments) the ‘concept maps’ of two other students
Week 3, Day 3
Read in advance of the seminar:
- Peterson, K., & Olson V. 2024. “Module 5: Describe your Research” and “Module 7: The Scoping Zones.” In 139-164; 195-220. Durham: Duke University Press.
Seminar:
10:00-10:30: Introductory reflections: From concept maps to research descriptions
10:30-12:00: Discussion of the concept map drafts and peer-reviews
12:00-13:00: Lunch
13:00-14:30: How to write a multidimensional ethnographic research description? Clarify your project’s core
--- End of Formal Programme ---
Rest of week 3 (about 3 hours): Independent study: Develop 1st Draft ‘Research Description’ based on exercise 5b (Communicating your project), 5d (baseline research description), 5f (research description), 7c (draft scoping question), 7d (disciplinary and social significance) from modules 5 and 7 Peer-review (written comments) the ‘research description’ of two other students
Week 4, Day 4
Concluding Seminar:
10:00-11:30: Discussion of the research description and peer-reviews
11:30-12:00: Concluding Reflections
Target group and min/max number of participants:
PhD and advanced master’s students who wish to develop and execute a field-based research project that is embedded in an ethnographic conceptualization.
Min: 3
Max: 20
Assumed prior knowledge:
Under/graduate training in qualitative methods and critical social sciences is recommended (but not required).
After completing this course, students may consider continuing their training through more methods and analysis-focused graduate courses such as ‘Transformative and Participatory Qualitative Research Approaches and Methods,’ ‘Ethics for Ethnographic Research,’ ‘Advanced Qualitative Research Design & Data Collection’ or ‘Qualitative Data Analysis’
Assessment:
Students’ performance is primarily assessed based on the final version of an individual-generated portfolio of an ethnographic, multidimensional research design. Portfolio components are developed on a weekly basis. Students receive feedback on first drafts of each component from their peers and instructor each week. A final revised version of the portfolio is due at the end of the course.
Multidimensional Ethnographic Research Design Portfolio
Part 1: Research Imaginary
Part 2: Concept Map
Part 3: Research Description
Students’ performance is further assessed based on their active participation in weekly sessions including feedback to their colleagues’ work during peer-review.
Course fees
| WGS PhDs with an approved TSP | 200 euro |
| a) All other PhD candidates b) Postdocs and staff of the above mentioned Graduate Schools | 440 euro |
| All others | 600 euro |