1. Home
  2. ANTH
  3. ANTH 402: Ethnographic Research Methods (Rev. 3 & 4)

ANTH 402: Ethnographic Research Methods (Rev. 3 & 4) Report a Broken Link

This is a senior-level course in anthropological research methods that reviews issues in ethnographic research. The focus is on gaining skills and practice in doing ethnographic research. The course involves learning about research methods and then applying them to a subject of each student's interest. You will gain practical experience in defining a research problem, doing background literature research, writing a research proposal, and carrying out and presenting a small independent field project. This course allows the opportunity to learn through experience and complements Anthropology 401: Ethnography, the Writing of Culture.

Unit 1: Introduction and the Nature of Ethnographic Research

No online readings

Unit 2: Ethnography as Qualitative Research

Tihanyi, Catherine. “Ethnographic and Translation Practices.” Anthropology News 42, no. 6 (September 2002): 5–6.
Shreve, Gregory M. “Translation, Fidelity and Other Mythical Beasts I Have Sited.” Anthropology News 43, no. 7 (October 2002): 7.
McCombie, Susan C. “Talking about Sex and Partners in Luganda." Anthropology News 44, no. 1 (January 2003): 6.

Unit 3: Defining a Research Problem or Question

No online readings

Unit 4: Research Design—Matching Methods, Locale, and Time Frame

Smith, Linda Tuhiwai. “Introduction.” In Decolonizing Methodologies, Research and Indigenous Peoples, 2nd ed., 1–19. London and New York: Zed Books, 2012.
Smith, Linda Tuhiwai. “Chapter 5: Notes from Down Under.” In Decolonizing Methodologies, Research and Indigenous Peoples, 2nd ed., 98–110. London and New York: Zed Books, 2012.
Ryan, Joan, and Michael P. Robinson. “Implementing Participatory Action Research in the Canadian North: A Case Study of the Gwich’in Language and Cultural Project.” Culture 10, no. 2 (1990): 57–71.

Unit 5: Ethics in Human Research

American Anthropological Association. “Principles of Professional Responsibility.” AAA Ethics Forum. 2012.
Association of Social Anthropologists of the UK and Commonwealth. “ASA Ethics: Ethical Guidelines for Good Research Practice.” 2011.
Panel on Research Ethics. Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans. Government of Canada, 2018.
Athabasca University. “Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans Policy.” Athabasca University, 2016.
Fitzgerald, Maureen H. “The Ethics-Review Process.” Anthropology News 46, no. 6 (2005): 10–11.
O’Neil, John D, Jeffrey Reading, and Audrey Leader. “Changing the Relations of Surveillance: The Development of a Discourse of Resistance in Aboriginal Epidemiology.” Human Organization 57, no. 2 (1998): 230–237.

Unit 6: Documentary Research and Literature Review

Hart, Chris. “Chapter 1: The Literature Review in Research.” In Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination, 1–25. Sage Publications, 1999.
Hart, Chris. “Chapter 2: Reviewing and the Research Imagination.” In Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination, 26–43. Sage Publications, 1999.

Unit 7: Research Techniques—Participant Observation and Interviewing

Hart, Elisa. Getting Started in Oral Traditions Research. Occasional Papers of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, No. 4. Yellowknife: Government of the Northwest Territories, 1995.
Agar, Michael. “Stories, Background Knowledge and Themes: Problems in the Analysis of Life History Narrative.” American Ethnologist 7, no. 2 (1980): 223–239.
Cruikshank, Julie. “Oral Tradition and Oral History: Reviewing Some Issues.” The Canadian Historical Review 75, no. 3 (1994): 403–418.

Unit 8: Visual Methods—Ethnographic Film, Video, and Photography in Ethnography

Pink, Sarah. “Introduction.” In Doing Visual Ethnography, 1–14. London: Sage Publications Ltd., 2001.
Pink, Sarah. “Chapter 1: The Visual in Ethnography: Photography, Video, Cultures and Individuals.” In Doing Visual Ethnography, 16–29. London: Sage Publications Ltd., 2001.
Collier, Malcolm. “Approaches to Analysis in Visual Anthropology.” In Handbook of Visual Analysis, edited by Theo van Leeuwen and Carey Jewitt, 35–60. London: Sage Publications Ltd., 2001.
Lister, Martin, and Liz Wells. “Seeing Beyond Belief: Cultural Studies as an Approach to Analysing the Visual.” In Handbook of Visual Analysis, edited by Theo van Leeuwen and Carey Jewitt, 61–91. London: Sage Publications Ltd., 2001.
Viewing Assignment
Duong, Ashley, dir. A Time to Swim. National Film Board of Canada, 2016.
Kunuk, Zacharias, dir. Atanarjuat the Fast Runner. National Film Board of Canada, 2000.
Sandiford, Mark, dir. Qallunaat! Why White People Are Funny. National Film Board of Canada, 2006.
Fernando, Rohan, dir. The Chocolate Farmer. National Film Board of Canada, 2010.
Brody, Hugh, dir. The Washing of Tears. National Film Board of Canada, 1994.

Unit 9: Organizing Data and Data Analysis

No online readings

Unit 10: Research Proposals and Project Design

No online readings

General Readings

American Anthropological Association. Statement on Ethics: Principles of Professional Responsibilities. Arlington, VA : American Anthropological Association, 2012.  
Cassell, Joan and Sue-Ellen Jacobs, eds. Handbook on Ethical Issues in Anthropology. American Anthropological Association, 1987.