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2022/2023

Bachelor's Degree Final Project

Code: 101280 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2500256 Social and Cultural Anthropology OB 4 1

Contact

Name:
Jorge Grau Rebollo
Email:
jordi.grau@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Other comments on languages

The language used during the supervision sessions will be adapted to the linguistic use of the students. In some cases, the tutor may use Spanish as the usual language of communication.

Teachers

Montserrat Ventura Oller
Lucía Sanjuan Nuñez
Gabriela Poblet Denti
Maria Julieta Olaso Ruiz
Isabel Graupera Gargallo
Hugo Valenzuela Garcia
Laia Narciso Pedro

Prerequisites

The student can join the BA Final Project (TFG) after the succesful completion of the methodological sequence:

  • Field practices in Social and Cultural Anthropology I.
  • Epistemology and research methods in Social and Cultural Anthropology.
  • Research techniques in Social and Cultural Anthropology.
  • Field Practices in Social and Cultural Anthropology II.

Otherwise, the satisfactory achievement of the course training objectives would become severly hindered.

Objectives and Contextualisation

The TFG is a 4th year, 6 ECTS, compulsory course within the Degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology.

The TFG is conceived as the culmination of a sequence of methodological and technical courses offered during the second and third academic years. That sequence, taken as a whole, does constitute a model of ethnographic research in Anthropology and is developed throughout the first semester of the 4th year. By scheduling it during the first semester, the BA allows: a) the continuity of the formative sequence in the anthropological investigation (which was initiated four semesters before and has been taken consecutively since then), as well as b) the possibility of distributing the 4th year students' workload, favouring the attendance of the External Practices module in the second semester, thus avoiding the overlapping with the TFG.

Hence, the TFG topic is already defined by the previous learning experience of the student in ethnographic research. Therefore, the TFG will deepen and expand the theoretical status of the covered subject and will include the methodological and technical design executed during the previous work, as well as the development of the analysis of the results of the research and the final conclusions. Thus, this work is not exclusively based on the hypothesis worked on in the sequence, but it goes hand in hand by expanding the focus from a thematic point of view. At the beginning of the course, the student and the supervisor of the TFG will establish the work scheme.

Regarding the supervisor, the student's choice among the teaching staff awarded in this subject will be considered.

Competences

  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  • Assessing in theoretical, methodological and ethical terms the anthropology investigations aimed to basic objectives or oriented to intervention.
  • Demonstrate skills for working autonomously or in teams to achieve the planned objectives including in multicultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
  • Demonstrating they know and comprehend the epistemological and methodological debates in Anthropology and the main investigation techniques.
  • Producing cultural diversity materials that could have a critical impact on the common sense conceptions.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analysing data critically from anthropological investigations and reports.
  2. Applying the current ethical codes to the ethnographic fieldwork.
  3. Applying the knowledge of cultural variability and its genesis to avoid ethnocentric projections.
  4. Assessing the methodology and techniques used in the several steps of the methodological and technical sequence.
  5. Carrying out a planning for the development of a subject-related work.
  6. Carrying out an individual work that specifies the work plan and timing of activities.
  7. Carrying out oral presentations using appropriate academic vocabulary and style.
  8. Distinguishing between the theoretical concepts of Anthropology and the indigenous concepts.
  9. Effectively expressing themselves and applying the argumentative and textual processes of formal and scientific texts.
  10. Explaining the work's results narratively in accordance with the critical standards of discipline and bearing in mind the different target audiences.
  11. Interpreting the cultural diversity through ethnography.
  12. Knowing and assessing the methodological debate of social and cultural Anthropology.
  13. Plan work effectively, individually or in groups, in order to fulfil the planned objectives.
  14. Producing a written text that is grammatically and lexically correct.
  15. Producing an oral text that is grammatically and lexically correct.
  16. Providing a context for a research related to the state of its concerning anthropological theory .
  17. Recognising the ethical implications of the ethnological relationships established during the fieldwork internship.
  18. Solving problems autonomously.
  19. Using suitable terminology when drawing up an academic text.
  20. Weigh up the impact of any long- or short-term difficulty, harm or discrimination that could be caused to certain persons or groups by the actions or projects.

Content

The final TFG Project is a written essay that consists of:

  • The elaboration and presentation of a topic that may allow a global and synthetic evaluation of the specific and transversal competences associated with the title of Graduate in Social and Cultural Anthropology.
  • A topic-centered bibliography search oriented to the selection and critical analysis of the specific literature of the chosen subject and the preparation of a theoretical framework.
  • The delimitation of a methodological and technical design elaborated thrughout the systematic work carried out during the previous formative sequence.
  • The development of the research analytical framework and the outline of final conclusions.
  • The delimitiation of the project's further steps (including feasibility, limitations and applicability).
  • And, finally, the oral presentation of the final TFG version before two examiners (excluding the supervisor). This public session is opened to the attendance of 3rd and 4th year students. It is adviced to prepare supporting material for the presentation (such as ppt templates, maps, images, figures, etc.)

A detailed template of the TFG final project will be available on the Virtual Campus.

The structure of the public defence will be as follows:

  1. Candidate's presentation: up to 20 minutes.
  2. Examiners remarks: up to 10 minutes.
  3. Final candidate's reply: up of minutes. (Taking notes of the observations / questions formulated by the examiners is highly adviced).

After the first plenary class, the student will choose his/her supervisor within the teaching team of that academic year. Each supervisor will only assume the number of students stipulated in his/her teaching plan.

Methodology

Individually supervised development of the processes for the preparation of the information obtained for the analysis, the process of analysis and writing of the TFG.

Systematization of information, analysis of ethnographic data and drafting of the TFG.

 TFG Schedule:

PLENARY SESSION

TFG Course plenary session

  • Overall TFG guidelines.

1st TUTORIAL

Short info about the research work done in the sequence

  • Review topic, analysis and observation units

2nd TUTORIAL

Delimitation of the research topic.

  • Delimitation of the research topic, keywords.

3rd TUTORIAL

Bibliographic search (theoretical framework)

  • Search results (authors, keywords, possible problems during this process).

 

4th TUTORIAL

Integration of the theoretical framework with previous ethnographic outcomes (BA courses: Fieldwork I & II)

  • Ethnographic statement over the concrete approached reality and results (hypothesis, among them).
  • Broad context.

 

5th TUTORIAL

Analysis and research outcomes

  • Data analysis (thematic / ethnographic info).
  • Conclusions.

6th TUTORIAL

Review ethnographic content with theoretical contributions (from the theoretical framework).

  • Review the different sections of the TFG (especially the theoretical framework and ethnographic analysis),

7th TUTORIAL

 

First TFG draft (following the provided template)

  • Check out of different TFG sections. Possible questions (mainly concerning the theoretical framework and the ethnographic analysis).
  • Check out of ethnographic content all together with main findings (theoretical framework).

 

Submission of the First TFG Draft

  • Overall checking and last-minute modifications to be included in the final Draft.

8th TUTORIAL

REVISION OF THE TFG FINAL DERAFT

9th TUTORIAL

(PLENARY)

PREPARATION OF THE TFG ORAL PRESENTATION

 

SUBMISSION OF TFG FINAL VERSION (PDF)

10th TUTORIAL

Office attention. Individual review of oral presentations.

 

ORAL PRESENTATION

Any modification of this calendar will be duly announced on the Virtual Campus.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Plenary sessions 5 0.2 4, 5, 13, 17
Type: Supervised      
Individual tutorials. Systematization of gathered information, analysis of ethnographic data and TFG writing. 20 0.8 1, 3, 2, 14, 15, 16, 12, 8, 6, 5, 10, 9, 7, 19, 11, 17, 18
Type: Autonomous      
Bibliographic search. Supervised development of the preparation of gathered information for the analysis, the analytical process itself and the TFG final writing 84 3.36 1, 12, 8, 11, 18, 20

Assessment

The evaluation consists of two phases, which must be individually passed:

- Written TFG manuscript:

  • Advised extension between 8,000 and 12,000 words (20 to 30 pages or 2100 characters / page), including footnotes and bibliography, plus annexes (if necessary).
  • The written part must be delivered on the date stipulated in the calendar of the subject (available on the Virtual Campus).
  • The tutor's grade for the written work corresponds to the follow-up process of all the tutorials and work carried out by the student throughout the semester. (70% of the final grade of TFG).
  • Format requirements:

• Source: Times New Roman 12. Color black.
• Interlined: 1.5
• Main entrance: bold.
• Secondary entry: bold and italic.
• Appointment style and bibliography: APA 6th edition.
• It will be necessary to differentiate between bibliography, filmography and webography

 - TFG Oral and public defense:

  • Lenght of oral presentation: up to 20 minutes long (about 10 images of a Ppt template).
  • The oral defense will take place in January-February. The date and composition of the court will be announced on the Virtual Campus.
  • The mark of the oral defense corresponds to the assessment made by the court of the presentation of the work carried out by the student. (30% of the final grade of TFG).

The course evaluation rubrics are to be found in the Virtual Campus.

On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.


Important: The students must accomplish all the courserequired tasks in order to be graded. It is, therefore, NOT EVALUABLE the student who has not followed the tutorial process since the beginning and / or has not done a minimum of four tutorials.

PLAGIARISM: In accordance with current regulations: In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.

The TFG cannot be re-assessed.

Given the sensitivity of the gathered data, the final TFG versions, properly anonymized, will be kept in a specific departmental depository.

In the event that tests or exams cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Oral Presentation 30 % 1 0.04 15, 10, 9, 7
Written TFG version 70 % 40 1.6 1, 3, 2, 4, 14, 16, 12, 8, 6, 5, 10, 9, 19, 11, 13, 17, 18, 20

Bibliography

Compulsory readings for each TFG will be determined in accordance with the particular topic developed by the student. If, at the suggestion of the supervisor, the methodological basis for qualitative research should be reinforced, we recommend the following manual:

  • Ballestín, Beatriz; Fàbregues, Sergi. (2018). La práctica de la investigación cualitativa en ciencias sociales. Barcelona: Editorial UOC.

Additionally, if needed, the student can also read any of the following references:

  • Álvarez-Gayou, Juan Luis (2005). Cómo hacer investigación cualitativa. Fundamentos y metodología. Mèxic: Paidós.
  • Bell, Judith (2002, ed. original 1999). Cómo hacer tu primer trabajo de investigación. Guía para investigadores en educación y ciencias sociales. Barcelona: Gedisa
  • Bourdieu, Pierre; Chamboredon, Jean Claude; Passeron, Jean-Claude (1994, ed. original 1973). El oficio de sociólogo. Presupuestos epistemológicos. Buenos Aires: Siglo XXI.
  • Coffey, Amanda; Atkinson, Paul (2005). Encontrar el sentido a los datos cualitativos. Estrategias complementarias de investigación. Alacant: Publicaciones de la Universidad de Alicante.
  • Comas, Dolors; Pujadas, Joan Josep; Roca, Jordi (2004). Etnografia. Barcelona: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.
  • Flick, Uwe (2004). Introducción a la investigación cualitativa. Madrid: Morata.
  • Gibbs, Graham (2012). El análisis de datos en investigación cualitativa. Madrid: Morata.
  • Gil Flores, Javier (1994). Análisis de datos cualitativos. Aplicaciones a la investigación educativa. Barcelona: PPU.
  • González Echevarría, Aurora (1987). La construcción teórica en Antropología. Barcelona: Anthropos.
  • Hammersley, Martyn; Atkinson, Paul (1994 [1983]). Etnografía. Métodos de investigación. Barcelona: Paidós.
  • Hernández, Roberto; Fernández, Carlos; Baptista, Pilar (2014, ed. original 2003). Metodología de la investigación. Mèxic: McGraw-Hill.
  • Marshall, Catherine; Rossman, Gretchen B. (1989). Designing qualitative research. Newbury Park / CA: Sage.
  • Miles, Matthew B.; Huberman, A. Michael (1994). Qualitative data analysis: an expanded sourcebook (2a. ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Quivy, Raymond; van Campenhoudt, Luc (2005, ed. original 1992). Manual de investigación en ciencias sociales. Mèxic: Limusa.
  • Randolph, Justus (2009). A guide to writing the dissertation literature review. Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation, vol. 14 (13).
  • Reboratti, Carlos; Castro, Hortensia (1999). Estado de la cuestión y análisis crítico de textos: guía para su elaboración. Buenos Aires: UBA, FFyL.
  • Rodríguez Gómez, David; Valldeoriola, Jordi (2009). Metodología de la investigación. Barcelona: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.
  • Rodríguez Sabiote, Clemente; Lorenzo, Oswaldo; Herrera, Lucía (2005). Teoría y práctica del análisis de datos cualitativos. Proceso general y criterios de calidad. Revista Internacional de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades. SOCIOTAM, (vol. XV, núm. 2, pàgs. 133-154).
  • Ruiz, José Ignacio (2012). Metodología de la investigación cualitativa. Bilbao: Universidad de Deusto.
  • Schettini, Patricia; Cortazzo, Inés (2015). Análisis de datos cualitativos en la investigación social. Procedimientos y herramientas para la interpretación de información cualitativa. La Plata: Universidad Nacional de La plata / Edulp.
  • Strauss, Anselm L.; Corbin, Julien (1990). Basics of qualitative research. Londres: Sage.
  • Strauss, Anselm L. (1987). Qualitative analysis for social scientists. Nova York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Sautu, Ruth et al. (2005). Manual de metodología. Construcción del marco teórico, formulación de los objetivos y elección de la metodología. Buenos Aires: Clacso.
  • Taylor, Steve J. ; Bogdan, Robert (1989). Introducción a los métodos cualitativos de investigación. La búsqueda de significados. Barcelona: Paidós Ibérica.
  • Téllez Infantes, Anastasia (2007). La investigación antropológica. San Vicente (Alacant): Editorial Club Universitario.

 

Adviced repositories:

  • ACADEMIC LIBRARIES.
  • CBUC.
  • JSTOR.
  • GOOGLE SCHOLAR.
  • SCOPUS.
  • ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANTHROPOLOGY.
  • DIALNET.

Software

The use of Mendeley reference manager is advised.