Syllabus Field Methods
Course Description
This course is an introduction to ethnographic fieldwork in Ethnomusicology. It aims at providing students with theoretical and practical instruments to undertake field research and ethnographic writing in preparation for their graduate theses. The course entails the exploration of fieldwork techniques and technologies, and active engagement with theoretical debates and critical perspectives on fieldwork and ethnographic representation involving Ethnomusicology, Anthropology, Sociology and Cultural Studies.
Prerequisites: the course is for graduate students only
Aims and Objectives
To become acquainted with a variety of practical fieldwork methods and develop or refine skills in participant observation, taking fieldnotes, interviewing, data organization and analysis.
To develop familiarity with the possibilities offered by a variety of multimedia technologies and introduce basic principles of use.
To develop an understanding of fieldwork as a crucial site of both practical and theoretical concerns, and to develop familiarity with and critical interest in theoretical issues, the ethics and politics of the ethnographic enterprise, reflexivity and advocacy.
To carry out a small fieldwork project as part of a larger ethnographic project design which, where possible, should be related to the students' graduate research proposal.
To regularly monitor and report on the methodological and practical steps taken during your fieldwork project, and to produce a final short piece of ethnographic writing.
Course Requirements
Regular class attendance
Presentation and discussion of assigned readings in class. As a general rule, each one of you will be invited to report on one or two assigned readings per week (and browse the readings assigned to others) and lead a critical discussion.
Mid-term short paper (maximum 2000 words): critique of a chosen ethnographic study in Ethnomusicology (due Week 9)
Short presentations of step-by-step fieldwork results, including design and planning, budget, interviews, fieldnotes, audio-video rough edits, etc, for discussion and feedback in class. These need to be submitted to me as well.
Submission of provisional research proposal. Due week 3.
Oral presentation in class (around 30 min) on the final results of your fieldwork enterprise
Submission of final ethnographic piece, due April 18th, including text and audio-visual materials. The text should not exceed 5000 words.
Assessment
Each assignment will be marked according to the numeric scale of evaluation given below. Individual assignment marks will be combined to obtain a final numeric grade, which will be translated into the correspondent final letter grade.
A 4.0
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3
B 3.0
B- 2.7
C+ 2.3
C 2.0
C- 1.7
D+ 1.3
D 1.0
D- 0.7
F 0.0
The relative weight of each assignment on the overall grade is as follows:
Attendance, participation in class discussions and presentation of readings: 25%
Presentation and submission of partial fieldwork results: 25%
Mid-term paper (critique of a sample ethnography): 15%
Presentation of fieldwork project and final ethnographic report: 35%
Provisional research proposals will not be assessed. However, it is essential that you work carefully on your proposal and submit it on time. This will help you to carry out your fieldwork project and prepare your final report.
Resources
There are no required textbooks for this course. A number of relevant books will be available at the University Bookstore (Atkinson 2001, Marcus 1998 and S.E.M. 2001 are particularly recommended). All class readings will be on reserve at the Music Library. Some of the readings required for this course are available online as well. Relevant bibliographic or audio-visual materials that may not be available in University Libraries will be handed out in class, included in the course Wiki page or made accessible in my office. The course Wiki-page will be an important resource for reading assignments, bibliography, media and other materials. I will use it also to communicate changes of schedule, further assignment details or other messages to the class. Audio and video equipment in the Centre for Ethnomusicology
Schedule
Week 1 – Jan 10: Introduction to the course
Week 2 – Jan 17: Fieldwork and ethnography: an overview of approaches, methods and techniques. Planning fieldwork
Due: discussion of readings
Week 3 – Jan 24: Critical perspectives and theories of ethnography
Due: Presentation and discussion of assigned readings Due: provisional research proposal to be submitted and discussed in class
Week 4 – Jan 31: Fieldnotes & participant observation. The experience of fieldwork: the researcher's position.
Due: Presentation and discussion of assigned readings
Week 5 – Feb 7: Ethics 1: representation and human participants. Emic / Etic issues in ethnographic research
Due: Presentation and discussion of assigned readings
Week 6 – Feb 14: Interviewing
Due: fieldnotes to be submitted, presented and discussed in class
Week 7 – Feb 21: Reading Week
Week 8 – Feb 28: Audio recording: equipment and editing softwares
Due: interviews, transcription and analysis to be submitted and discussed in class
Week 9 – March 7: Filming: video cameras and editing softwares
Due: submission and presentation of mid-term paper (critique of a chosen ethnography)
Week 10 – March 14: Critical perspectives and theories of ethnography 2
Due: audio recordings for discussion in class Due: presentation and discussion of assigned readings
Week 11 – March 21: Knowledge and Politics
Due: video footages for discussion in class Due: presentation and discussion of assigned readings
Week 12 – March 28: Analysis and Writing
Due: ethics forms
Week 13 – April 4: Ethics 2: Ownership, repatriation and dissemination of ethnographic materials; production and music industry
Due: preliminary organization and analysis of fieldwork materials to be discussed in class Due: presentation and discussion of assigned readings
Week 14 – April 11: Final project presentations
Final ethnographic project due on April 18th
“Policy about course outlines can be found in section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar”. (GFC 29 SEP 2003)
“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of th University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves the the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.” (GFC 29 SEP 2003)
