Anthropology 394RI - Ethnography in Action

Today's public institutions and community organizations operate in complex societies and serve an increasingly diverse set of constituents and stakeholders. Anthropological research provides tools for understanding diverse perceptions, practices, and social problems in cultural and historical context. The centerpiece of this course is an actual group research project here in western Mass: students will act as a team to design a research project, conduct field research with a partner organization, organize and analyze data, and present research findings. We will read anthropological and other relevant texts related to the specific topical area of the semester's research project. Students will learn key concepts of anthropological research design, methodological strategies, and think critically about the ethics of applied anthropological research. Satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-Anth majors.