Ethnographic Method

This course provides a fundamental introduction to ethnographic method, the core research approach in social anthropology. Students will learn how anthropologists gather and interpret empirical material through fieldwork and participant observation. The course introduces essential methodological principles, including interpretation, contextualization, comparison, and holistic analysis.

The course also explores foundational issues in researching everyday life and how it is experienced and understood. This includes attention to different lifeworlds, social interaction and relationships, and the ethical dimensions of ethnographic inquiry.

The course integrates theoretical perspectives with practical techniques, including writing field notes, multisensory observation, conversations and interviews, the use of digital technology, and the study of relationships with material and natural environments. Students will also read a monograph that demonstrates how ethnographic knowledge is constructed.

A student who has completed the course is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

• have knowledge of ethnographic method as a basis for research in social anthropology
• understand key methodological principles such as participant observation, interpretation, contextualization, comparison, and holistic analysis
• be familiar with theoretical perspectives such as semiology and phenomenology and their application in fieldwork
• have insight into research ethics concerning relationships between researchers and informants

Skills

• plan and conduct basic ethnographic observations and document them in field notes
• apply fundamental techniques for observation, conversations, and interviews in fieldwork
• analyse and interpret empirical material using relevant theories and perspectives
• identify and reflect on ethical dilemmas in ethnographic research

General Competence

• critically reflect on how knowledge about social and cultural conditions is produced through fieldwork
• understand the importance of ethical considerations in research and interaction with informants
• communicate observations and analyses in a professional and accurate manner
• demonstrate the ability to collaborate and contribute constructively to academic discussions

Lectures and seminars.