Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - GSWS 800 G100

Toolkit for GSWS Research (5)

Class Number: 1723

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–3:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An interdisciplinary seminar introducing a variety of methodological approaches to research in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. Students will examine the theories, purpose, scope, and strategies for feminist approaches to research. Students will study examples of research and criticism from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Emphasis will be placed on rigorous and creative approaches to research design, as well as practical application of research methods. Students will apply methods studied in the course to their own areas of concentration.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course will explore how feminist and queer research methods undo foundational concepts about our world, for example, how do we evaluate success if it excludes minoritized population, how do we measure profit and loss if means not reaching people most vulnerable? Consequently, how do we then receive knowledge and research if they are invisibilize intractable social facts about our lives. We will read some of the ground breaking texts that reveals the gendered and racialized fault lines of world and which force us to reimagine our world. We will explore what emerges when we keep into account voices that are not heard, ambitions to decolonize our notions of value, care, and validity. Students will be asked to discover what kind of research questions they wish to commit their energy and will be able to share and refine their analysis with colleagues. We will look at how method, praxis and theory are linked and modify each other given the realities of our world and the ethical obligations that call us. Given the various disciplinary methods that find a home in feminist and queer studies, the course will introduce students to various tools that allow us to keep the complexity of our question intact. Various archives that are available digitally and through the university, qualitative methods, including ethnography and structured interviews, and survey tools, will be designed and utilized by students to find answers to their questions. We will ask and enquire how our methods can be improved to keep us accountable to the human and non-human communities with whom we work?

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

For more detailed information please see the GSWS website: https://www.sfu.ca/gsws/graduate/courses/goals.html

Grading

  • Researcher reflections & engagements with texts 35%
  • First Draft of Final Project 20%
  • Final Project 30%
  • Peer review 15%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

COURSE READINGS: Various content (journal articles, videos, podcasts, etc.) available on Canvas and/or via SFU library databases.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website 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

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.