Learning outcomes:

After successful completion participants are expected to be able to:

• Determine conceptual hierarchies in contexts of ethnographic holism
• Design a multidimensional ethnographic research project that connects general conceptual debates with contextual specificity
• Create an ethnographic research project grid that includes a concise research description, scoping question, and a significance statement

Sessions:

Programme:

• One weekly seminar over three weeks, plus a concluding seminar in week 4.

Week 1, Day 1:

Read in advance of the seminar:

• Peterson, K., & Olson V. 2024. “Module 1: Imagine the Research.” In 43-68. Durham: Duke University Press.

Seminar:

9:30-10:30 Introduction: Designing an ethnographic project with connectivity, intuition, curiosity, and congruence and identifying a multidimensional object
10:30-10:45: Coffee break
10:45-12:00: Students briefly introduce their respective ethnographic, thesis topic and some of the challenges that they are have encountered with project design so far
12:00-13:00: Lunch
13:00-14:30: How to write an ethnographic ‘research imaginary’? Getting started!

--- End of Formal Programme ---

Rest of week 1 (about 3 hours): Independent study: Draft a complete first draft of ‘research imaginaries’ and ‘concept tables’ and peer-review (written comments) the draft ‘research imaginaries’ and ‘concept tables’ of two other students.

Week 2, Day 2:

Read in advance of the seminar:

• Peterson, K., & Olson V. 2024. “Module 3: Map Concepts” and “Module 4: Create Multidimensional Concept Combos.” In 95-109; 111-137. Durham: Duke University Press.

Seminar:

10:00-10:30: Introductory reflections: From research imaginaries to concept maps
10:30-12:00: Discussion of the ‘research imaginaries’ and ‘concept tables’ drafts and peer-reviews
12:00-13:00: Lunch
13:00-14:30: How to make an ethnographic concept map and creating multidimensional concept combos? Connecting context and concepts

--- End of Formal Programme ---

Rest of week 2 (about 3 hours): Independent study: Develop a 1st Draft ‘Concept Map’ based on exercise 3a (Working Graphically), 3b (Concept Map), 3c (Ethnographic Connections), 4b (Concept Combos) from modules 3 and 4 and peer-review (written comments) the ‘concept maps’ of two other students

Week 3, Day 3

Read in advance of the seminar:

• Peterson, K., & Olson V. 2024. “Module 5: Describe your Research” and “Module 7: The Scoping Zones.” In 139-164; 195-220. Durham: Duke University Press.

Seminar:

10:00-10:30: Introductory reflections: From concept maps to research descriptions
10:30-12:00: Discussion of the concept map drafts and peer-reviews
12:00-13:00: Lunch
13:00-14:30: How to write a multidimensional ethnographic research description? Clarify your project’s core

--- End of Formal Programme ---

Rest of week 3 (about 3 hours): Independent study: Develop 1st Draft ‘Research Description’ based on exercise 5b (Communicating your project), 5d (baseline research description), 5f (research description), 7c (draft scoping question), 7d (disciplinary and social significance) from modules 5 and 7 Peer-review (written comments) the ‘research description’ of two other students

Week 4, Day 4

Concluding Seminar:

10:00-11:30: Discussion of the research description and peer-reviews
11:30-12:00: Concluding Reflections

Target group and min/max number of participants:

PhD and advanced master’s students who wish to develop and execute a field-based research project that is embedded in an ethnographic conceptualization.

Min: 3
Max: 20

Assumed prior knowledge:

Under/graduate training in qualitative methods and critical social sciences is recommended (but not required).

After completing this course, students may consider continuing their training through more methods and analysis-focused graduate courses such as ‘Transformative and Participatory Qualitative Research Approaches and Methods,’ ‘Ethics for Ethnographic Research,’ ‘Advanced Qualitative Research Design & Data Collection’ or ‘Qualitative Data Analysis’

Assessment:

Students’ performance is primarily assessed based on the final version of an individual-generated portfolio of an ethnographic, multidimensional research design. Portfolio components are developed on a weekly basis. Students receive feedback on first drafts of each component from their peers and instructor each week. A final revised version of the portfolio is due at the end of the course.

Multidimensional Ethnographic Research Design Portfolio

Part 1: Research Imaginary
Part 2: Concept Map
Part 3: Research Description

Students’ performance is further assessed based on their active participation in weekly sessions including feedback to their colleagues’ work during peer-review.

Course fees

Cancellation conditions:

The participants can cancel their registration free of charge 1 month before the course starts. A cancellation fee of 100% applies if a participant cancels his/her registration less than 1 week prior to the start of the course.

The organisers have the right to cancel the course no later than one month before the planned course start date in the case that the number of registrations does not reach the minimum.

The participants will be notified of any changes at their e-mail addresses.