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
Lectures are given in English.
Tutorials: First-year bachelor’s students of CADS have chosen their preferred language of instruction for tutorials during their application. Premaster’s and archaeology students will follow the course entirely in English.
Exam(s) and assignment(s) are in the same language as the 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 (conducting a survey, undertaking a semi-structured interview, and doing participant observation). 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
Successful completion of this course will mean that students:
Become acquainted with basic knowledge about the philosophy of science and learn to apply this knowledge to social scientific research.
Acquire skills such as analysing, reflecting, and collaborating 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
Dates and room numbers can be found on the 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: 14 x 2 hours = 28 hours x 1,5 = 42 sbu
Tutorials: 7 x 2 hours = 14 hours x 2 = 28 sbu
Practical assignments= 90 sbu
Literature: ca. 840 pages = 120 sbu
Assessment Method
Because of the set-up of the course - gaining research experience in groups - an active, group-oriented attitude is required. Preparation before class and active participation in class are fundamental for the success of the course and your learning outcomes. For this reason, we stimulate discussions and participation in class so that everyone can bring and share their experience, values, and opinions with their peers.
The lectures form an integral part of the course, which means there will be exam questions on the lectures. You are encouraged to attend lectures where you can ask questions.
Attending tutorials is mandatory. If you miss more than one scheduled tutorial you must be able to document extenuating circumstances for all absences. Missing more than one class without extenuating circumstances for all absences means a fail for the course
The assessment of this course consists of 2 group assignments, 1 individual assignment and 1 individual exam. The group assignments are carried out in teams of 4-5 students. The final grade is calculated as follows:
Final exam (50%)
Group assignment 1 (10%)
Group assignment 2 (20%)
Individual assignment 3 (20%)
The final exam (50%) and assignment 3 (20%) must be assessed with a 5,5 or higher. Both group assignment 1 (10%) and assignment 2 (20%) may be graded with a 5.5 or lower. To pass the course, the final average should be 5.5 or higher. The exam and assignment 3 can be retaken. Assignment 1 and 2 cannot be retaken.
Registration in My Studymap
All students will be registered for the lecture and the exam (including re-sits) by the Student Services Centre (SSC).
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.
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
Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods (5th edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cramer, K. J. (2016). The Politics of Resentment: Rural Consciousness in Wisconsin and the Rise of Scott Walker. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (Chapter 1,2 and 8)
Spradley, J. P. (1979). Step two: Interviewing an informant. In: The Ethnographic Interview (pp. 55-68). New York: Holt, Rineheart and Winston.
Warwick, D. P. (2009 [1975]). Tearoom trade: Means and ends in social research. In: Humphreys, L. Tearoom Trade: Impersonal Sex in Public Places (pp. 191-212). London: Routledge.
Chapters from monographs and articles from academic journals are available through Leiden University’s digital library.