Module:  RPE5103-20  Transformative Communities

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Dr. Maria Nita

Module Tutor Contact Details: m.nita@bathspa.ac.uk

1.    Brief description and aims of module

The Transformative Communities Module will teach you to conduct your own empirical research project, drawing on methods and theory from Anthropology. Anthropology is a key social science which aims to understand human culture by doing research, by gathering and analysing data,  and by applying key theories in order to come up with new findings. The module is relevant to students coming from any discipline, as it is teaching you to work with primary sources or first hand material (which would be relevant to historians for example) and also to conduct research with people (relevant to social scientists), through a short fieldwork experience. This fieldwork experience consists of visiting or having a short placement with a volunteering or faith-based organisation, such as a Buddhist monastic community, among many other community partner organizations. Alternatively, students can choose to work with archival material and conduct a small number of online interviews. The word 'transformative' refers to communities concerned with social and ecological justice, involved in volunteering work or activism. 

2. Syllabus:

• Why do we do empirical research?

• Why should we research transformative communities?

• An introduction to Anthropology

• Examining beliefs, values, and practices

• Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies

• Grounded theory

• Developing your research project and having impact

• Getting from data to findings

• Doing data analysis

• Doing discourse analysis

• Writing up empirical research

• Multimedia presentation and forum discussion

3. Teaching and learning activities

Teaching will take place through a series of lectures, seminars and interactive workshops, combining tutor-led and student-led elements. Tutor-led workshops include research training in preparation for the one week placement. The placement is normally residential, but may be non-residential, or conducted online, depending on your circumstances. Student-led workshops discuss the placement experience and lead to the presentation of your findings, responses and insights.

The final presentations may take the form of a multimedia presentation, conference, exhibition or webinar, depending upon circumstances, to which a number of stakeholders are invited.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Coursework

• Description: Research Report (2,000 words)

• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Coursework

• Description: Individual multimedia presentation (2,500 words equiv.)

• % Weighting: 50%