SA 356_2013 - SA 356: Ethnographic & Qualitative Methods...

SA 356: Ethnographic & Qualitative Methods
( Writing Intensive)
Term and Year: Summer 2013
Instructor: Michelle Walks , PhD candidate (UBC, Okanagan campus)
Email: [email protected] ( the best way to contact me)
Seminar hours & location: Wednesdays 9:30-13:30 (EDB 9651)
Office Hours: Wednesdays 1:30-2:30 [feel free to arrange other times if this time doesn’t work for you]
Office Location: AQ 5080
Phone: [phone] [please restrict calls to my office hours, otherwise I may not get your message]
Campus: Burnaby (day)
Description of course:
This course explores a diversity of ethnographic & qualitative research methods used by sociologists &
anthropologists. Through the use of a variety of recent and historical publications, in addition to a core course
text, this course will touch on the theories & practical elements of various qualitative methods, & foster
students’ ability to compare & contrast methods. Additionally, through Research Portfolios students will gain
practical skills with 6-different qualitative research methods. Further, this course will examine motivation,
benefits, detriments, politics of representation, & other ethical issues related to the use of ethnography &
qualitative methods.
Prerequisite: SA 255
Required Texts:
1. Davies, C.A. 2007. Reflexive Ethnography: A Guide to Researching Selves & Others . (2 Ed). Routledge. [ RE ]
2. Custom Courseware. (selected readings) [ CC ]
3. Online Readings (through SFU library). *if you have problems accessing these, please inform me ASAP
Grading:
Your final mark in the class will be based on the following:
Participation 20% (inc. various in-class assignments, details below)
Group Presentation ‘lecture’ 10%
Research Portfolio 70%* (inc. 6 projects + a final reflection)
Late Policy:
There is a 10% deduction per day that an assignment is late. Late assignments should be stamp-dated at the SA
Office & placed in my mailbox.
Please inform me ASAP of foreseeable problems in completing assignments on time.
Please also inform and provide me with a medical note ASAP for missed or late assignments.
Research Ethics:
This is a Research Ethics Board approved course. Please familiarize yourself with appropriate ethical standards
before conducting your research. Copies of printed material regarding research ethics standards will be
distributed in class. Students should submit their research plans to the instructor by a date to be determined. The
instructor will assess and approve them before students start their research.
1

Grading System:
Undergraduate Course Grading System is A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F, N (N standing to indicate the
student did not complete * ). Intervals for the assignment of final letter grades based on course percentage grades
are as follows:
A+ 95 – 100 B+ 80 - 84 C+ 65 –69 D 50 – 54
A 90 - 94 B 75 - 79 C 60 –64 F 0 - 49
A- 85 - 89 B- 70 - 74 C- 55 – 59
(*Updated)
SFU Grading and Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct Policy
Where a final exam is scheduled and you do not write the exam or withdraw from the course before the deadline
date, you will be assigned a N grade. Unless otherwise specified on the course outline, all other graded