Prerequisite/Recommended prerequisite for participation in the module

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

This module is offered in both a 20 ECTS and 30 ECTS version.

The goal of this module is to gain experience in anthropological field work and apply theoretical and methodological knowledge, skills and competencies, so that the anthropological field work contributes to developing a specific technological product or process, or to the evaluation of a specific technological product or process. The student has to be able to conduct the field work independently, generate knowledge from this work and demonstrate skills to disseminate the field work insights and how this could inform product / process development or product / process testing. The project has to discuss how the research approach ensures validity and reliability (in consideration of the used research methods) and demonstrate how anthropological field work is relevant to product / process development or product / process testing. The project will be based in a public, private or grassroots organisation specific to product / process development or testing.

Students who complete this module can:

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• identify methods and theories that support design and implementation of anthropological fieldwork
• explain the methods of anthropological fieldwork, including participant observation and the use of field notes and interviews
• explain the classic and newer ideas in anthropological analysis and dissemination, including, for example various ethnographic and narrative approaches
• explain anthropological knowledge production in a theoretical perspective

Skills

• plan and carry out anthropological fieldwork
• liaise anthropological fieldwork to technological product / process development or testing
• liaise anthropological practice with theoretical insight specific to technological product / process development or testing

Competences

• on the basis of fieldwork assess practical problems associated with technological product / process development or testing
• assess potentials and limitations of various anthropological approaches, including those related to the validity and reliability of anthropological methods as well as to the ethical dimensions of anthropological field work
• evaluate how anthropological theories and methods can help create new practices in scientific and technological research and development
• coordinate fieldwork.

Type of instruction

The module will be implemented as problem-based and project-oriented work within the module's overall framework. The project work is supported by one or more supervisors.

Exam

Exams