Anthropological Research Methods – (M.A.)

Contents

The MA is designed to train students in research skills to the level prescribed by the ESRC’s research training guidelines. It is intended for students with a good first degree (minimum of a 2.1) in social anthropology and/or a taught Masters degree in social anthropology. Most students would be expected to progress to PhD registration at the end of the degree. By the end of the program students will:

• Have achieved practical competence in a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods and tools;
• Have the ability to understand key issues of method and theory, and to understand the epistemological issues involved in using different methods.

In addition to key issues of research design, students will be introduced to a range of specific research methods and tools including:

• Interviewing, collection and analysis of oral sources, analysis and use of documents, participatory research methods, issues of triangulation research validity and reliability, writing and analysing field notes, and ethnographic writing.
• Social statistics techniques relevant for fieldwork and ethnographic data analysis (including chi-square tests, the T-test, F-test, and the rank correlation test).

Discipline specific training in anthropology includes:

• Ethnographic methods and participant observation;
• Ethical and legal issues in anthropological research;
• The logistics of long-term fieldwork;
• Familiarisation with appropriate regional and theoretical literatures;
• Writing-up (in the field and producing ethnography) and communicating research results; and
• Language training.

The Training Programme

In addition to optional courses that may be taken (see below), the student must successfully complete the following core course:

• Research Methods in Anthropology (15 PAN C011).

This full unit course is composed of Ethnographic Research Methods (15 PAN H002, a 0.5 unit course) and Introduction to Statistics - A Graduate Programme at Three Levels (a 0.5 unit course convened at UCL).

MA Anthropological Research Methods students and first year MPhil/PhD are also required to attend the Research Training Seminar which provides training in the use of bibliographic/online resources, ethical and legal issues, communication and team-working skills, career development, etc. The focus of the Research Training Seminar is the development and presentation of the thesis topic which takes the form of a PhD-level research proposal.

Dissertation

MA/MPhil Students meet regularly with their supervisor to produce a systematic review of the secondary and regional literature that forms an integral part of their dissertation/research proposal. The dissertation, Dissertation in Anthropology and Sociology (15 PAN C998), is approximately 15,000 words and demonstrates the extent to which students have achieved the key learning outcomes during the first year of research training. The dissertation takes the form of an extended research proposal that includes:

• A review of the relevant theoretical and ethnographic literature;
• An outline of the specific questions to be addressed, methods to be employed, and the expected contribution of the study to anthropology;
• A discussion of the practical, political and ethical issues likely to affect the research; and
• A presentation of the schedule for the proposed research together with an estimated budget.

The MA dissertation is submitted no later than mid-September of the student’s final year of registration. Two soft-bound copies of the dissertation, typed or word-processed, should be submitted to the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Office by 4 pm on the appropriate day.

Exemption from Training

Only those students who have clearly demonstrated their knowledge of research methods by completing a comparable program of study in qualitative and quantitative methods will be considered for a possible exemption from the taught courses. All students, regardless of prior training, are required to participate in the Research Training Seminar.

Structure of Study

A typical program of study would involve enrolling and passing (an asterisk * indicates a required component of the degree) three full units (this includes the two half units on research methods) and submitting a dissertation.

Term 1

Generic Training

• Language Training
  AND/OR
• Special Course Option

Anthropological Training

• Ethnographic Research Methods
• Research Training Seminar
• Work with Supervisor

Term 2

Generic Training

• Language Training
  AND/OR
• Special Course Option

Anthropological Training

• Introduction to Statistics
• Research Training Seminar
• Work with Supervisor

Term 3

• Research Training Seminar: presentations to subject group
• Work with Supervisor
• Submission of dissertation/research proposal

Language Training

Students can choose to study any African or Asian language that is normally available to students taking one of the taught Masters programs.

Option Courses

• Theoretical Approaches to Social Anthropology - 15PANC008 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Comparative Studies of Society and Culture - 15PANC073 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Comparative Media Studies - 15PANC009 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Comparative Media Theory - 15PANH028 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Issues in the Anthropology of Film - 15PANH022 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• The Anthropology of Food - 15PANC013 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Food, Body and Society - 15PANH041 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Cannot be taken with 15PANH042 Food, Development And The Global Economy
• Food, Development and the Global Economy - 15PANH042 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Cannot be taken with 15PANH041 Food, Body And Society
• Issues in the Anthropology of Gender - 15PANH024 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not to be combined with 15PDSH010 Gender & Development.
• Cultural Understandings of Health - 15PANC093 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Therapy and Culture - 15PANH027 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Anthropology of travel and tourism A - 15PANH051 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Anthropology of travel and tourism B - 15PANH052 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Issues in Psychoanalysis and Anthropology - 15PANH032 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• African and Asian Diasporas in the Contemporary World - 15PANC012 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• African and Asian Cultures in Britain - 15PANH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• African and Asian Diasporas in the Modern World - 15PANH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Iranian Cinema - 15PMSH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Approaches to the Other in Horror and Science Fiction Films - 15PANH043 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Perspectives On Development - 15PANH033 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Anthropology of Development - 15PANC090 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Culture and Society of China - 15PANC089 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Culture and Society of Japan - 15PANC086 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Culture and Society of South Asia - 15PANC087 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Culture and Society of South East Asia - 15PANC088 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Culture and Society of the Near & Middle East - 15PANC097 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Culture and Society of East Africa - 15PANC084 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Culture and Society of West Africa - 15PANC083 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives A (Masters) - 15PANH047 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives B (Masters) - 15PANH048 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012 - Must be taken with the first term course - 15PANH047 Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives A (Masters)
• Anthropology of Urban Space, Place and Architecture - 15PANH029 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Media Production Skills - 15PANH050 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Theory and Method in the Study of Religion - 15PSRC010 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Funding details

There are some scholarships and bursaries available for postgraduate students. These are very competitive and early application is advised.

Loans

Another way to fund your studies is through educational loans. Some high street banks offer loans for education. The other option is a career development loan. Before taking out a loan ensure that you understand what the repayments will be and that you will be able to afford them.

A Professional and Career Development Loan is a bank loan for UK students designed to help you pay for your course. Repayments start one month after you complete your course. You can borrow between £300 and £8,000. The bank will approve your loan according to your credit rating.

Eligible US students can apply for Stafford Federal Loans, Federal Plus and private loans to cover their tuition and maintenance costs.

The Registry Fees and Scholarship section can also certify student registration for other loans, such as Canadian educational loans.

Please contact:

• Registry Fees Section if you have any queries on educational loans or fees for degree courses.
• Noel Connaughton for fees information for occasional courses, certificates and diplomas.
• CEFIMS for fees information for distance learning courses.

Other Sources of Funding

Useful funding information can also be found at:

• Hotcourses Scholarship Search
• HERO funding information for research students