Last update: David Verbuč, M.A., Ph.D. (06.09.2023)
Ethnography is the art and science of studying and writing about human culture and society. It is one of the most
important methods in qualitative research, not only in anthropology, but also in other social science disciplines. It
helps scholars and students to effectively approach and address, as well as to gain valuable and in-depth
understanding of, relevant social and cultural phenomena. Students learn in this course about the main
ethnographic fieldwork methods and techniques (participant-observation, interviewing, grounded theory, coding,
eliciting of meaning, textual analysis, Internet ethnography, ethnography of [music] performance). In addition, they
also practice how to develop a research design (including research questions, and a thesis statement), as well
as how to present, analyze, and interpret ethnographic data in writing (in papers, articles, theses). In regard to the
latter, students will master different forms of ethnographic writing for this course (fieldnotes, vignettes,
ethnographic description, analysis of data, transcription). Furthermore, class topics also address the issues of
positionality, reflexivity, and research ethics. Students are required to submit weekly reading and writing
assignments, design and conduct a small fieldwork study, and present it in a final paper. The course also
prepares the students for the writing of their BA theses in the field of anthropology and other related disciplines
(including ethnomusicology). Advisably for the second year BA students. This class is taught in two interconnected
classes (co-requisites: YBAJ235 and YBAJ234), and it is mandatory to register for both, in order to successfully
complete either of them.
Last update: David Verbuč, M.A., Ph.D. (06.09.2023)
Ethnography is the art and science of studying and writing about human culture and society. It is one of the most
important methods in qualitative research, not only in anthropology, but also in other social science disciplines. It
helps scholars and students to effectively approach and address, as well as to gain valuable and in-depth
understanding of, relevant social and cultural phenomena. Students learn in this course about the main
ethnographic fieldwork methods and techniques (participant-observation, interviewing, grounded theory, coding,
eliciting of meaning, textual analysis, Internet ethnography, ethnography of [music] performance). In addition, they
also practice how to develop a research design (including research questions, and a thesis statement), as well
as how to present, analyze, and interpret ethnographic data in writing (in papers, articles, theses). In regard to the
latter, students will master different forms of ethnographic writing for this course (fieldnotes, vignettes,
ethnographic description, analysis of data, transcription). Furthermore, class topics also address the issues of
positionality, reflexivity, and research ethics. Students are required to submit weekly reading and writing
assignments, design and conduct a small fieldwork study, and present it in a final paper. The course also
prepares the students for the writing of their BA theses in the field of anthropology and other related disciplines
(including ethnomusicology). Advisably for the second year BA students. This class is taught in two interconnected
classes (co-requisites: YBAJ235 and YBAJ234), and it is mandatory to register for both, in order to successfully
complete either of them.
