Sociology 476-E                             Jim Thomas
M - W: 3:30 - 4:14 (Du 448Du)               807 Zulauf
Office Hours: M-W 1-2 pm                    753-6436 (o); 756-3839 (h)

             SYLLABUS: ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH (SOCI 476-E)

Ethnography is the study of culture,   and this course will identify
several methods by which scientists  can obtain data for understanding
culture.   We will  focus on  (but  not be  limited to):    1)
Systematic/participant  observation;   2)    Interviewing;   3)
documentary/content analysis.   We will  examine how ethnography can
draw from each of these methods to enrich our studies in ways that are
rigorous and scientific.

Course requirements and grading.

The course is organized around five general issues:
  A. Epistemological/methodological issues
  B. Ethical issues
  C. Doing ethnography: Identifying the proper method(s)
  D. Coding and Analyzing data
  E. Writing it up: The language of ethnography

Course Requirements and Grading

Grading will be done on the basis of:
   a) Five short quizes (about 20% of the grade)
   b) Four short papers (3-5 pages each;  20%)
   c) One final paper (about 50% of grade)
   d) Class participation (about 10% of grade)

IT IS EXPECTED THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO A SMALL TAPE RECORDER.

Assigned readings:

    Kirk &: Miller         RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY
    James Spradley         THE ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERVIEW
    Erving Goffman         THE PRESENTATION OF SELF
    J. Thomas              DOING CRITICAL ETHNOGRAPHY
    Selected handouts and library reserve

Assignments will be given each week. Much of what we do will be shaped
by what people choose for research projects.  Hence,  we cannot give
specific assignments at  this time.   THE COURSE  WILL BE RELATIVELY
EASY, BUT WILL BE LOTS OF WORK!!!!   Attendance, class participation,
and keeping up on assignments are crucial.

BECAUSE OF UNFORSEEN GLITCHES,  IT  MAY OCCASIONALLY BE NECESSARY TO
CHANGE ASSIGNMENTS AND DATES.  **YOU** ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING AWARE
OF THESE CHANGES.

NOTE:  FINAL PAPERS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN MAY 5!

The following are the tentative ASSIGNMENTS.

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