MA Anthropological Research

The MAAR dissertation is an self-contained research project, comprising the skills and scope of knowledge forming the programme of study for this ESRC-recognised degree. It demonstrates the candidate’s learned skills in synthesis and analysis of complex issues in social science and social anthropological research in a critical and systematic way, showing creativity and the ability to question taken for granted assumptions. With support from both the supervisor and programme director, any student enrolled in the MAAR programme might choose to submit a research proposal suitable for doctoral level research.  Course work, workshops and masterclasses throughout two semesters, alongside fortnightly individual dissertation supervision all support the preparation of this independently researched, 12,000-word dissertation as the summation of the candidate’s work for the year.

These include: 
1. Understand major areas of advanced debate and innovation in research in Social Anthropology, including a critical knowledge and understanding of: 
 

• the nature of research projects themselves as cultural activities;
•  the implications of defamiliarisation as a key concept and experience in fieldwork research practice;
• the importance of the processual nature of fieldwork;
• the issues surrounding the reflexive dissemination of anthropological knowledge into non-specialist domains, including the contexts from which it was generated;
• the debates in social and cultural theory impinging on the central issue of a student’s research topic;
• the regional literature focusing on the student’s research topic, taken in a comparative and global context

2. Understand the relationship between Social Anthropology and other related disciplines, such as History, Sociology, Cultural Studies and Geography, and the contribution such disciplines might make to the student’s research topic

3. Understand the ethical and legal issues relevant to the practice of research in social sciences in general and to social anthropological research in particular, including

4. Understand a range of research methods and techniques and debates about their application, including knowledge and understanding of

• An understanding of the use of bibliographic sources in preparing a research project. 
• An appreciation of how textual and visual media can be integrated in both the production and presentation of research. 
• Ability to develop a research project informed by anthropological analysis. 
• A developed awareness of the personal and ethical issues inherent in ethnographic research. 
• An ability to present a proposal to a group of peers and the course instructor.
• An ability to work in small groups and to peer review developing literature review work 
• The ability to produce a final dissertation project, perhaps with original ethnographic research, accompanied by critical analysis, from conception to completion independently, with guidance from tutors and supervisors.

Workshop-based and potentially practice-based learning, shared in small group meetings throughout the year, and woven together in individual supervision meetings.