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Epistemology and Research Methods in Social and Cultural Anthropology

Code: 101264 ECTS Credits: 12
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2500256 Social and Cultural Anthropology OB 2

Contact

Name:
Beatriz Ballestin Gonzalez
Email:
beatriz.ballestin@uab.cat

Teachers

Gabriela Paula Poblet Denti
Dan Rodriguez Garcia
Beatriz Ballestin Gonzalez

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

In order to be able to correctly study the subject, it is necessary to have to do previously Fieldwork Practicum I in Social and Cultural Anthropology.


Objectives and Contextualisation

It is a subject that is part of a sequence of methodological-technical subjects that constitutes a model at the scale of ethnographic research in Anthropology: Fieldwork Practicum I (exploratory or prospective fieldwork), Epistemology and methods of study research (theoretical design), Research techniques (technical design), Instrumental resources for anthropological research (instrumental competences), Fieldwork Practicum II (to test of the hypotheses according to the previous methodological designs, data collection, analysis and conclusions), and Final Project (model at the scale of ethnographic research in Anthropology).

The subject of Epistemology and methods is part of the main Subject 11, Methods, techniques and instruments of research in Anthropology, and its contents refer to the phase of theoretical design of the research (formulation of the hypotheses, elaboration of the theoretical framework, tests of contrast, etc.) and to the epistemological assumptions underlying the sequence of methodological and technical subjects of the degree.

This subject is linked to Fieldwork Practicum I, and has the following objectives:

1. To understand the historical development of the different proposals of  research methods and the different proposals for the analysis of scientific theories, analysing critically the opposition between "scientific" and "hermeneutic" or interpretative methods.

2. To make a first approximation to the methodological assumptions underlying the classical and contemporary works of Social Sciencies in general and Social and Cultural Anthropology in particular.

3. To reach conclusions about the debate on the application of "scientific" and "interpretative methods" in Anthropology and the role of hermeneutic structures in this discipline of the pre-understanding on one side and on the other the descriptions, the interpretative procedures and the explanations that account for diverse relationships between socio-cultural phenomena.

4. To reachawareness that anthropological knowledge, and in general, disciplinary knowledge, are cultural products typical of unequal societies, immersed in the shared worldviews and closely related to power relations, which demands a critique Non-empirical of theories and concepts, which adds to epistemological methodological criticism.

5. To acquire the ability to develop and test an explanatory hypothesis of a sociocultural problem (formulated from an initial phase of fieldwork) taking into account its plausibility, its adequacy to the data and its relation with other alternative hypotheses.


Competences

  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  • Apprehending cultural diversity through ethnography and critically assessing ethnographic materials as knowledge of local contexts and as a proposal of theoretical models.
  • 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 develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Use digital tools and critically interpret specific documentary sources.
  • Using the procedures, techniques and instrumental resources to the fulfilment of ethnographic fieldwork.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Adopting a holistic perspective to the research problem's statement and analysing human institutions within wider cultural configurations.
  2. Analysing a contemporary fact from an anthropological perspective.
  3. Analysing data critically from anthropological investigations and reports.
  4. Applying the current ethical codes to the ethnographic fieldwork.
  5. Applying the knowledge of cultural variability and its genesis to avoid ethnocentric projections.
  6. Assess the reliability of sources, select important data and cross-check information.
  7. Assessing critically the explicit and implicit theoretical models in the ethnographic materials.
  8. Carry out ethical use of the information especially when it is of a personal nature.
  9. Carrying out an individual work that specifies the work plan and timing of activities.
  10. Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
  11. Critically assessing ethnographic materials as a proposal for theoretical models.
  12. Establishing reliable ethnological relationships with subjects that encourage the production and trustworthiness of data.
  13. Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
  14. Explaining the work's results narratively in accordance with the critical standards of discipline and bearing in mind the different target audiences.
  15. Knowing and assessing the difference between the epistemological and the methodological critique of concepts.
  16. Knowing and assessing the methodological debate of social and cultural Anthropology.
  17. Obtaining and recording ethnographic data by applying the different collection and analysis techniques, specially by using qualitative procedures and the practice of the participant observation.
  18. Operationalizing theoretical concepts and testing explanations of the sociocultural phenomena.
  19. Proponer proyectos y acciones que estén de acuerdo con los principios de responsabilidad ética y de respeto por los derechos y deberes fundamentales, la diversidad y los valores democráticos.
  20. Relating elements and factors involved in the development of scientific processes.
  21. Solving problems autonomously.
  22. 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

SECTION I INTRODUCTION

0. Presentation of the course: structure, content, evaluation.

1. Preliminary definitions and basic assumptions. The “folk” concept of science: supposed objectivity, supposed truths. Historicity of the scientific method proposals. Criticism of traditional dichotomies: natural / social sciences, nomothetic and idiographic disciplines, interpretive anthropology and scientific anthropology.

2. The beginning of the scientific methodology in anthropology: Evolutionism, Tylor and the science of culture; the first approaches to the method: Radcliffe-Brown structural functionalism and the application of inductivism in anthropology: the inductive-verificationist method. Inductive method and deductive method.

SECTION II: GENERAL EPISTEMOLOGY OF SCIENCE: RACIONALISTS LOGICS

3. Falsationism: from certainty to conjecture. The first approaches: Herschel and Duhem ("soft falsationism"). Popper ("hard falsationism") and the hypothetical-deductive-falsationist method: criticism of inductivism; the relativity of the concept "truth"; falsifiability as a demarcation criterion between science and non-science.

4. Logical Probabilism: Carnap, Kaplan and Manners. Explanation and prediction.

5. Hempel, classic methodological concepts: hypothesis, contrasting implication, corroboration / falsation, theoretical support and empirical support, logical probability, nomological-deductive explanation, etc. The limits of falsation and the verification of theories.

SECTION III: SCIENCE AND SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL ASPECTS, RUPTURES AND CONTINUITIES WITH RATIONALIST LOGICS.

6. Kuhn and the theory of paradigms: normal science and scientific revolutions.

7. The sophisticated falsationism of Lakatos. Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes (SRP).

8. Feyerabend's radical critique (methodological anarchism, cognitive styles and rationalities).

SECTION IV: EPISTEMOLOGY AND METHODS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 

7. Foundations of Epistemology and Methods in Social Sciences: Positivist and Fenomenological/Constructivist/Interpretativist/Hermeneutical traditions 

8. Explanation and Interpretation in Social Sciencies and Social and Cultural Anthropology: a false dilemma. Basis and complementarity of qualitative and quantitative methodology.

9. Two integrative proposals: Pierre Bourdieu's Structuralist Constructivism, and Anthony Giddens' Theory of Structuration and Double Hermeneutics.

 

 

 


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Preparation of exams 27 1.08 1, 3, 7, 11, 15, 16, 20
Selection of a work hypothesis and application of the theoretical concepts basic to the hypothesis 50 2 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20
Theoretical classes and discussion of theoretical readings 25 1 2, 4, 18, 21
Type: Supervised      
Carrying out a methodological design and developing an hypotheses 5 0.2 1, 2, 4, 9, 12, 17, 18, 21
Individial Tutorials 25 1 2, 4, 18, 21
Type: Autonomous      
Reading and commenting on compulsory readings 70 2.8 2, 4, 9, 18, 21
Successive and cumulative work developing the hypothesis 75 3 3, 5, 11, 14, 20

Preliminary understanding of subjects is achieved through classes and compulsory readings.

Deeper understanding is achieved through exams based on key concepts anb mandatory readings, and through the development of a tutored practical work that is being developed in several stages as advances in the learning of the theoretical-methodological contents.

The practical component, besides of individual tutorials, includes several mandatory sessions with the whole class, to explanain of the guides for the development of the Practice.

Note: 15 minutes of a class will be reserved, within the timetable established by the centre/title, for the complementation by the students of the assessment surveys of the teaching staff's performance and the assessment of the subject.

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.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Midterm exam and final exam 50% 3 0.12 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21
Supervised development of a methodological research design 50% 20 0.8 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22

The follow-up of the course in the Theory part will suppose 50% of the grade of the course, and will be evaluated from two exams (25% and 25%) based on the key concepts and mandatory readings. 

The other 50% corresponds to the Practicum part, which consists in the elaboration, in various submisssions, of a theoretical research design based on an hypothesis.

Deliveries of all evaluative works must be made on the stipulated dates. Regarding the Practicum part, it is necessary to have attended all the follow-up tutorials related to the development of the design.

To pass the course, students must have passed each part (Theory and Practicum) independently, in the ordinary period of avaluation, with a minimum grade of 5 out of 10.

In order to be re-evaluated, the student must have been previously evaluated on a set of activities the weight of which equals a minimum of 2/3 of the total grade. 

The Theory part will be re-evaluated with partial or final exam, and the Practicum with the repetition of the failed practices submitted.

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.

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.

In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to asignificant variationin thegrade 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 gradefor this subject.

The student will receive a grade of "Not evaluable" if he/she has not taken any of the exams and has not handed in more than 50% of the Practicum part.

This subject does not incorporate single assessment.

 

 

 


Bibliography

MANDATORY BLIBLIOGRAPHY WILL BE SPECIFIED AT THE BEGGINNING OF THE COURSE.

 

SUPPORT BIBLIOGRAPHY

AGAR, M. [1982] (1992) “Hacia un lenguaje etnográfico”, en Reynoso, C. (comp.) El surgimiento de la antropología postmoderna, Barcelona: Gedisa, pp. 117-137.

BOURDIEU, P. (2007) [1980] “Libro 1: crítica de la razón teórica: 1. Objetivar la objetivación; 2. La antropología imaginaria del subjetivismo; 3. Estructuras, habitus, prácticas; 9. La objetividad de lo subjetivo". In El sentido práctico. Buenos Aires: Siglo XXI Editores.

BOURDIEU, P. (2003) [2001] “II Un mundo aparte: 1. El “oficio” del sabio; 2. Autonomía y derecho de admisión; 3. El capital científico, sus formas y su distribución; 4. Una lucha regulada". In El oficio de científico. Ciencia de la ciencia y reflexividad. Barcelona: Anagrama, pp. 63-126.

CHALMERS, A. F. (1982) ¿Qué es esa cosa llamada ciencia?, Madrid: S. XXI.

CHALMERS, A. F. (1992) La ciencia y cómo se elabora, Madrid: S. XXI. 

GIDDENS, A. (1987) [1967] “Conclusiones: Algunas nuevas reglas del método sociológico”, en Las nuevas reglas del método sociológico. Crítica positiva de las sociologías interpretativas, Buenos aires: Amorrortu, pp. 159-167.

GONZÁLEZ ECHEVARRIA, A. (1987) La Construcción teórica en Antropología, Barcelona, Anthropos.

—  (1989) “Del estatuto científico de la Antropología”, en J. Contreras yotros (dirs.) Antropología de los Pueblos de España. Madrid. Taurus: 177-191.

—  (1990) Etnografía y comparación. La investigación intercultural en Antropología. Barcelona: Servei de Publicacions de la UAB.

— (2003) “Un Esquema conceptual para el análisis del conocimiento”, en Crítica de la singularidad cultural, Barcelona: Anthropos, pp. 371-381.

— (2006) “Del utillaje conceptual de la antropología: los usos del términos “inductivismo” y los usos del término “hermeneútica”. Dos propuestas de clarificación”, Revista de Antropología Social, 15: 327-372.

— (2009) La dicotomía emic/etic. Historia de una confusión. Barcelona. Anthropos

_ (2011), “De la certeza a la conjetura. Evolución de las propuestas de método científico”. Adaptado de  “Del utillaje conceptual de la antropología: los usos del términos “inductivismo” y los usos del término “hermeneútica”. Dos propuestas de clarificación”, Revista de Antropología Social, 15: 327-372.

FEYERABEND, P. K. (1982) [1978] “La ciencia en una sociedad libre”, en La ciencia en una sociedad libre, Madrid: Siglo XXI, 2ª parte, pp. 82-142.

HEMPEL, C. (1979) Filosofía de la ciencia natural. Madrid: Alianza.

KAPLAN, David y MANNERS, R.A. (1979) “Antropología: métodos y problemas en la formulación de teorías”; “Algunos temas viejos y nuevas direcciones”, Caps. 1 y 5 de Introducción crítica a la teoría antropológica, Buenos Aires: Nueva Imagen, pp.19-66 y 313-341.

KUHN, T.S. (1971) [1962] “Introducción” y “Posdata 1969”, en La estructura de las revoluciones científicas, México: Fondo de Cultura Económica, pp. 20-32 y268-319.

LAKATOS, I. (1983) [1978] “La falsación y los programas de investigación científica”, en La metodología de los programas de investigación científica, Madrid: Alianza, pp. 17-72.

POPPER, K. (1967) [1935] “Panorama de algunos problemas fundamentales”; “Sobre el problema de una teoría del método científico”, Caps. 1 y 2 de La lógica de la investigación científica, Madrid: Tecnos: 27-54.

RADCLIFFE-BROWN, A. R. (1975) [1958] “Definición [de Antropología Social]”, en J.R. Llobera, ed. La Antropología como ciencia, Barcelona: Anagrama, 1975: 47-53.

RADCLIFFE-BROWN, A. R. (1974) [1925] “El hermano de la madre en África del sur”, en Estructura y función en la sociedad primitiva, Barcelona: Península, pp. 25-41.

SAN ROMÁN ESPINOSA, T. (2006) “Acaso es evitable? El impacto de la Antropología en las relaciones e imágenes sociales” Revista de Antropología social 15: 373-410.

GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

ADORNO, T.W. (1969) La disputa del positivismo en la filosofía alemana. Barcelona. Grijalbo. 1973.

AGAR, M. (1982) “Hacia un lenguaje etnográfico”, en Reynoso, comp. 1992:779-95

ATAL, Y. 1981 “The Call for Indigenization”. International Social Science Journal, vol. 32, I: 189-197.                                                                                                                    

BACHELARD, G.1975b (1938) La formation de l’Esprit Scientifique. Contribution a une Psychanalise de la Connaissance Objective. París. Vrin. .                                

BARNES, B. 1982, T.S. Kuhn and Social Science. Londres. Mac Millan                   

BAUMAN, Z. 1978 Hermeneutics and Social Science. Approach to Understanding. Londres. Hutchinson.                                                                                                       

BERGER, A. T. & LUCKMAN (1966) La construcción social de la realidad. Buenos Aires. Amorrortu.                                               

BOAS, F.  1896 “The Limitations of the Comparative Method in Anthropology” Science, N.S. 4: 901-908, en Boas, 1968: 270-288.

— 1968 (1940) Race, Language and Culture. Canadá. Collier-Macmillan.                                                                                             

BOHANNAN, L.1956 “Miching Mallecho: that means withchcraft”, en J. Morris, ed. From the third Programme: 174-188 Nonesuch Press, Ltd. London, en “The Bobbs-Marrill reprint series in Social Sciences”, A.403.                                                                               

BOURDIEU, P., CAMBORDEON, J.C. y PASSERON,J.C.(1973) El oficio de sociólogo. Madrid, s. XXI.                                                                                                                   

CARNAP, R.1969 Fundamentación lógica de la Física. Buenos Aires. Editorial Sudamericana.                                                                                                                               1974 “Qué es la probabilidad” en D.M. Messick, ed. Matemáticas en las ciencias del comportamiento.  Madrid. Alianza. 39-49. 

CARRITHERS, M. (1990) “Is Anthropology Art or Science?”, Current Anthropology, 131 (3): 263-282 (traducción castellana en Alteridades. Anuario de Antropología, México: UAM).

CICOUREL, A. V.1979 (1973) La sociologie cognitive. París. P.U.F.       

CHALMERS, A. F.(1982) ¿Qué es esacosa llamada ciencia?, Madrid: S. XXI. 

CHALMERS, A. F. (1992) La ciencia y cómo se elabora, Madrid: S. XXI.       

CLIFFORD, J. (1988) “Sobre la autoridad etnográfica” en Reynoso, comp. 1992: 141-170.          

COLLINGWOOD, R.G. An Essay on Methaphysics. Oxford. Citado por Toulmin,1977.

COULON, A. 1988 (1987) La Etnometodología. Madrid. Cátedra.                       

DAVIDSON, D. 1990 (1984) De la verdad y de la interpretación. Barcelona. Gedisa. 

— 1992, Mente, mundo y acción. Barcelona. ICE/Paidós.

DILTHEY, W.1966 (1883) Introducción a las ciencias del espíritu. Madrid. Revista de Occidente.

DUHEM, P.(1906) The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory. Princeton: Princeton U.P.

ESTUPINYÀ, P. (2010) El ladrón de cerebros: Compartiendo el conocimiento científico de las mentes más brillantes. Barcelona: Debate.

EVANS-PRITCHARD, E-E.(1937) Brujería, magia y oráculos entre los Azande. Barcelona. Anagrama. 

FEYERABEND, P.K.  (1974) Contra el método, Barcelona: Ariel.

— 1982 La ciencia en una sociedad libre. Madrid. S. XXI. 

FLECK, L. (1935) La génesis y el desarrollo de un hecho científico. Introducción a la teoría

del estilo de pensamiento y del colectivo de pensamiento. Madrid. Alianza Editorial.

FOUCAULT, M. [1971] (1993) Microfísica del Poder. Madrid: La Piqueta.

GADAMER, H.G.1993(1960) Verdad y Método I. Salamanca. Sígueme.

— 1994 (1986) Verdad y Método, II. Salamanca. Sígueme. 

GARFINKEL, H., 1990 (1967) Studies in Ethnometodology. Cambridge. Polity Press. 

GEERTZ, C. (1984) “Distinguished Lecture: Anti, Anti, Relativism”, American Anthropologist, vol. 86: 263-278.

— 1987 (1973) La interpretación de las culturas. México. Gedisa. 

   

BIBLIOGRAPHY FROM A GENDER PERSPECTIVE

ALCOFF, LINDA & POTTER, ELIZABETH (1993) Feminist Epistemologies. New York: Routledge

BLAZQUEZ GRAF, NORMA (2012). Epistemología feminista: temas centrales. Centro de Investigaciones Interdisciplinarias en Ciencias y Humanidades, UNAM.

LONGINO, HELEN E. (2017[1999]) "Feminist Epistemology"  (Chapter 14). In Greco, J. and Sosa (Eds.) The Blackwell Guide to Epistemology. Malden Mass: Blacckwell Publishing.  


Software

To be determined at the beginning of the course.


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(SEM) Seminars 11 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 12 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 13 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed