Anthropology as a discipline is distinguished by its use of ethnography, the intense, intimate study of a small section of human society. This method brings with it both advantages and challenges. It allows anthropologists (and, by extension, their readers, project teams, and employers) to look into human motivations, concerns, hopes, and joys – in short, to see the fine detail of life behind the numbers of government reports, economic trends, opinion polls, and other statistics. At the same time, there is an intimate relationship between researcher and researched (individuals called informants, collaborators, partners, and often friends) that does not always exist in other fields. This course will chart the emergence of anthropology as a fieldwork science, and the changing features of ethnographic practice over 100 years of disciplinary history. We then engage with emerging trends and theories related to new fieldwork contexts like corporate and design applications, and digital anthropology.
Over the course of the semester we will survey and apply a broad range of anthropological methods. This course is structured as a practicum, emphasising learning by doing. Each student will develop a project and trial a variety of ethnographic approaches to data collection. Practicums will involve trialling, sharing, debating, and brainstorming applied anthropology in real world contexts.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- discuss and critically evaluate the history and significance of ethnography within anthropological research methods;
- identify and formulate original anthropological questions as the basis for a range of fieldwork scenarios;
- draw upon and apply a broad array of anthropological research methods to an independent ethnographic project; and
- evaluate research design and develop advanced skills in communicating ethnographic findings to diverse audiences.
Work Integrated Learning
Fieldwork
This is an applied fieldwork practicum that includes a placement with a community organisation and communication of results to the field partner. Through participatory research methods, students learn to align their qualitative research skills with the needs and priorities of their partner organisation and communicate their results effectively.
Other Information
Students will complete individual and group-based independent research projects over the course of the semester. There is a significant self-directed fieldwork-based research component to this course.
Indicative Assessment
- Practicum Participation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Book Club (30-40min podcast; 1000 word individual component to the group assessment) (25) [LO 1,4]
- Three applied projects (1500 words each, 15% each) (45) [LO 2,3]
- Final reflective essay (1000 words) (20) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 12 hours of lectures and 24 hours of hands-on practical; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing including 2 hour per week (24 hrs) of independent ethnographic research
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Not applicable
Preliminary Reading
Ferguson, J., 1997. Anthropological locations: Boundaries and grounds of a field science. University of California Press.
Sanjek, R. and Tratner, S.W. eds., 2016. eFieldnotes: The makings of anthropology in the digital world. University of Pennsylvania Press.
Pink, S., 2020. Doing visual ethnography. Sage.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4080 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7647 | 22 Jul 2024 | 29 Jul 2024 | 31 Aug 2024 | 25 Oct 2024 | In Person | N/A |
| 9039 | 22 Jul 2024 | 29 Jul 2024 | 31 Aug 2024 | 25 Oct 2024 | Online | N/A |
