Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ANT1003: Imagining Social Worlds: Texts

This module descriptor refers to the 2016/7 academic year.

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to a range of theoretical and practical issues faced by sociologists and anthropologists as they attempt to engage with and understand their human research subjects. Through a focus on the end-products of social research (ethnographic texts, films and websites) the module aims to teach students how to 'read' these texts and to familiarise students with social research as a holistic process which calls for a reflexive and flexible approach. An awareness of the issues faced by established researchers and the ways in which they negotiated these in the field and subsequently is important for developing an appreciation of the dynamism of social research, the development of theoretical and methodological traditions, and the ethical responsibilities of researchers to their research subjects. As a result, this module will equip students with analytical skills as well as a firm grounding in ethnographic theory and method, and a familiarity with a range of ethnographic case studies.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. demonstrate a basic knowledge of a range of key methodological approaches and theoretical orientations in anthropology and sociology
2. demonstrate a basic knowledge of the ways in which social and historical context has influenced the process of social research;
3. evaluate the research strategies and theoretical approaches employed by a selection of established sociologists and anthropologists;
4. evaluate the ethical implications of the decisions made by social researchers;
Discipline-Specific Skills5. evaluate at a basic level a range of social scientific arguments and methods of data collection, analysis and presentation;
6. describe at a basic level a range of key concepts, theories and methods of anthropological/sociological analysis;
7. describe at a basic level some of the ways in which anthropological/sociological knowledge can be applied;
8. demonstrate a basic ability to evaluate your own cultural assumptions and those of a range of established social researchers;
9. recognize and evaluate at a basic level the ethical implications of anthropological/sociological enquiry and qualitative research more generally;
Personal and Key Skills10. plan and execute work independently and in groups, within supportive guidelines, to achieve acceptable outcomes;
11. discuss ideas and interpretations with others in a clear and reasoned way;
12. present the results of independent research both in writing and orally.