APG4248 - Field methods in anthropology and international development

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Overview

The unit involves an international field trip to Monash Malaysia and provides students with formal and applied training in qualitative and ethnographic field research methods. The unit consists of a two week (16 day) stay in Malaysia. This includes a field site visit, in which students will work with the Australian-based unit coordinator, local staff members from the School of Arts and Social Sciences (Monash Malaysia) and the Southeast Asian Community Observatory (SEACO) to conduct small-scale research projects, gather data in the field, analyse, and present their findings. Students also spend time at Monash Malaysia Sunway campus at the start and end of the field trip, with briefings and introductory presentations by academic staff, and data analysis and debriefing workshops at the end. In this briefing, students also learn about the socioeconomic and development context of Malaysia and the districts in which they will conduct their research. They will engage with the ethical issues of field research in regional Malaysia. Students also learn about the aims, objectives and research methods of the research platform in which their field project is situated.

Requisites

Prohibition

Contacts

Chief Examiner(s)

Dr Narelle Warren

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Narelle Warren

Notes

This unit is an international study program that requires an application to be enrolled and may incur additional cost.
The unit may be offered in non-standard teaching periods.
The unit may be offered as part of the Winter Arts Program.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

An understanding of some of the key sustainable development issues facing communities in regional and rural Malaysia;

An understanding of the ethical dimensions of community-based research in Malaysia, including those issues particular to the research setting or platform of their field project (i.e. SEACO or other research program);

Formal training in qualitative and ethnographic research methods;

Field experience of developing a research question, designing appropriate research field methods, gathering data, and analysing that data;

Experience of working with field interpreters, and working in complex cross-cultural settings;

Experience of communicating in a presentation and written report the significance, design and findings of a small-scale research project.

Assessment summary

Within semester assessment: 100%

Workload requirements

Workload

Other unit costs

Costs are indicative and subject to change.
International study tour cost estimate for planning purposes - $3,455
Expenses of a personal nature (e.g. visas, entrance fees, meals etc.) may also be at participant's expense unless specifically included in the tour arrangements.

Availability in areas of study

International development practice