Aims

To produce data on the basis of participative observation and semi-directive interviews; to be able to use other research techniques; and to plan the organisation of a field.

Main themes

Through an exhaustive examination of questions of associated anthropological and epistemological methodology, the seminar will focus on an understanding of ethnographical research tools, and particularly on the interpretation of data, and on ethnographical writing.

Content and teaching methods

Content
1. Description through skilled looking and from writing.
2. The conditions of "ethnographical translation".
3. The construction of an issue based on ethnographical data.
4. Reflections on the analysis and interpretation of data.
Methodology
The seminar is designed on the basis of prior reading, synthesised expositions given by the teacher, and discussion based on students' practical work. Students will be invited to prepare the field on the basis of which they will do their end-of-course work.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

This course belongs to the section of the course called "prospective anthropology", for which assessment of the whole course takes the form of a single examination before a jury of senior academics. On the basis of a piece of written work of 20 pages that has been produced about a substantive issue drawn from their field, and previously discussed with the tutor, students will demonstrate their synthesised understanding of the concepts, the methodology and the theories that have been taught. They will have to defend themselves orally before a jury of professors.
One Professor and one Assistant.

Other credits in programs