Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2022 - SA 356W OL01

Ethnography and Qualitative Methods (SA) (4)

Class Number: 2704

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Online

  • Instructor:

    Pamela Stern
    pstern@sfu.ca
    Office Hours: Zoom drop in: Tues, 10:30am - 12pm, other days by appointment

  • Prerequisites:

    SA 255.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An examination of qualitative field methods, including participant observation, interviewing, archival research, cross-cultural research, life histories, network analysis, mapping, and ethical problems of fieldwork. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

Qualitative methods – ethnography, participant observation, and interviewing – are core research activities in sociocultural anthropology and sociology. This course is intended to give students the opportunity to learn how to employ these and other qualitative methods by engaging in a series of structured research activities. This class outlines the basic tasks of qualitative field research. Students will learn how to formulate a fruitful question, work through personal and ethical dilemmas raised by field research, and record, analyze, and formally present qualitative findings. During the Spring 2022 term, a substantial number of research activities will involve the application of digital and remote data collection methods.

SA356W is time demanding class that involves experiential learning. Several of the assignments involve unobtrusive data collection in the community.

Your final mark in the class will be based on the following:       

  • Written assignment related to specific data collection and data analysis methods
  • Participation in collaborative research activities
  • Online quizzes

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

At the end of this course students should be able to:

  • read social science articles and identify the research question and the research methods (described or implicit)
  • articulate general ethical protocols and be able recognize ethical research
  • be able to practice several different methods of data collection in relation to a specific topic or area of sociology/anthropology inquiry
  • engage in data analysis that involves integrating more than one piece of information
  • share findings in visual, digital and/or written forms

Grading

  • Research proposal - multi-step term project 60%
  • Weekly quizzes 20%
  • Observational fieldnotes journal 20%

NOTES:

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraw from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The Undergraduate Course Grading System is as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T20.01), and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10‐S10.05). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style. It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

The Sociology and Anthropology Student Union, SASU, is a governing body of students who are engaged with the department and want to build the SA community. Get involved!  Follow Facebook and Instagram pages or visit our website.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Book chapters, journal articles, and other materials available will be made available in CANVAS.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2022

Teaching at SFU in spring 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with safety plans in place.  Some courses will still be offered through remote methods, and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the spring 2022 term.