Prospectus

nl en

Anthropological Research in Practice

Course
2023-2024

Admission Requirements

This course is open to the following categories of students:

  • Bachelor’s CADS

  • Bachelor Heritage and Society (Archaeology)

  • Premaster’s CADS admitted to this specific course during the application procedure

N.B.: Completing this course is required to register for the second-year courses Fieldwork NL, Research Preparation, and Multivariate Analysis.

Language of Instruction

The language of instruction of the lectures is English for all participants. The language of instruction of the tutorials for all minor and premaster students is English. First year bachelor’s students CADS have chosen their preferred language of instruction for tutorials during their application. Student exam(s) and assignments are in the same language as tutorials.

Course Description

This course familiarises students with anthropological research methods by offering (a) an introduction to debates about methodology, and (b) experience with techniques of anthropological research. The course focuses on acquiring practical knowledge of data collection procedures in social science research and on contextualising scientific research within specific knowledge paradigms. Students will learn how to formulate research questions, apply specific methods for collecting data, analyse data, and look critically at the relationship between data and knowledge.

Course Objectives

During this course, students will:

  • Become acquainted with basic knowledge about the philosophy of science and learn to apply this knowledge to social scientific research.

  • Acquire skills to conduct anthropological research.

  • Learn about the main methods used in social scientific research (participant observation, qualitative interviews, questionnaires).

  • Understand, apply and critically reflect on the relationship between research questions, methods, analysis and knowledge production.

Schedule

See our website

Mode of Instruction

This is a 10 ECTS course, which means 280 hours of study (1 ECTS is equivalent to 28 study hours or sbu's). These 280 study hours are composed from the following components:

  • Lectures: 15 x 2 hours = 30 hours x 1,5 = 45 sbu

  • Tutorials: 7 x 2 hours = 14 hours x 2 = 28 sbu

  • Practical assignments= 87 sbu

  • Literature: ca. 840 pages = 120 sbu

Assessment Method

  • Participation in tutorials is mandatory. Absence is permissible only with the explicit permission of the lecturer.

  • Assignments (50%): students will work in tutorials to execute weekly practical assignments resulting in a final group assignment.

  • Final individual exam (50%): Written examination on lecture material and literature.

Both the practical assignments, final group assignment, and the exam should receive a pass mark. Only if the final exam receives a fail mark, may the exam be re-taken. Only the final mark is registered in uSis. The final pass mark is 5,5 or higher; a final mark of 5,5 or lower is deemed inadequate.

Registration in My Studymap

All students will be registered for the lecture and the exam (including re-sits) by the Student Services Centre (SSC). Students do need to confirm the registration for their exams in My Studymap as described below.

Division and enrolment in the mandatory tutorials will also be done by the SSC and announced via uSis in the first week of lectures.

Archaeology students (specialisation Heritage & Society) will also be enrolled via the SSC. Please contact your Study Advisor for more information.

Confirming your exams

It is mandatory for all students of Leiden University, including first-year bachelor students, to confirm registration for each exam (this includes re-sits) in MyStudymap. This is possible up to and including 10 calendar days prior to the examination. You cannot take an exam without a valid pre-registration and confirmation in MyStudymap.

The following groups of students do not have access to MyStudymap, their registration and confirmation of participation of the exam will be conducted by the SSC: Premaster students, Exchange students, Contract students, Minor students from other universities than Leiden University.

Brightspace

Brightspace is the digital learning environment of Leiden University. Brightspace gives access to course announcements and electronic study material. Assignments will also be submitted in Brightspace.
Announcements about and changes to courses are given in Brightspace. Students are advised to check Brightspace daily to remain informed about rooms, schedules, deadlines, and details of assignments. Lecturers assume that all students read information posted on Brightspace.

  • How to login

The homepage for Brightspace is: Brightspace

Please log in with your ULCN-account and personal password. On the left you will see an overview of My Courses.

For access to your courses in Brightspace you need to be registered in My Studymap for those courses.

Course Literature

To be announced.

Contact

Dr. M. de Wilde Dr. A.L. Littlejohn