Research Methods Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
| Module title | Research Methods Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies |
|---|---|
| Module code | ARAM190 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Sajjad Rizvi (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 6 | 5 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
This module is intended to introduce you to general research skills, sources and tools relevant to the study of the Middle
East and Muslim world from the perspectives of the social sciences and humanities. It is compulsory for all students in taught Masters courses in IAIS and for those first year PhD students who are deemed by their supervisiors to need methodological training. Otherwise there are no pre- or co-requisites. It consists of workshops introducing the theory and methodology of studying the Middle East from different disciplinary viewpoints, including doing ethnographic fieldwork and working with archival sources, and covering such crucial points as thesis/dissertation planning and ethics committee applications. Fortnightly lecture-seminars will introduce students to the research methodologies employed within the Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies subject areas. Individual lectures will focus on different disciplinary approaches, as well as providing training for bibliographic and referencing skills in Middle Eastern Studies, on-line resource utilisation, thesis planning and ethical issues.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module is intended to introduce new MA students to general research skills, sources and tools relevant to the study of the Middle East and Muslim world from the perspectives of the social sciences and humanities. It aims to remain focused on the Middle East whilst giving students an introduction to various disciplinary approaches, thus imparting an awareness of the exigencies of the disciplines of others, which is highly relevant in area studies. Students also get a chance to practise more transferable skills such as giving presentations.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Utilize a variety of disciplinary research methods, selected from those employed in the subject areas of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
- 2. Apply bibliographic and referencing skills relevant to the study of the Middle East and Muslim world;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Understand the relevant ethical issues linked to the study of the Middle East and Muslim world, with particular reference to the ethical frameworks of the ESRC and AHRC;
- 4. Organize information (required for the composition of a thesis plan in the area of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies);
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Communicate clearly (both in writing and orally);
- 6. Utilize computer skills relevant to investigating and employing data for the study of the Middle East and Muslim worlds;
- 7. Interpret data from a variety of sources (including print and news media);
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module's precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
-Introduction and Library and Sources
-Material Culture and Archaeology
-Theoretical Frameworks
-Interviewing and Interview Techniques
-Ethnography and Participant Observation
-Research Ethics
-Working with Documentary sources
-Bridging the gap between Quantitative and Qualitative Research
-Dissertation skills; Writing about the Middle East; thesis planning
-Student Presentations and Discussions
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 22 hours | 11 x 2 hour seminars |
| Guided independent study | 128 hours | Reading and seminar preparation (75 hours); Coursework (53) hours |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 0 | 30 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation (individual) on Dissertation Methodology and a written summary of at least 1000 words to be submitted with copies of PowerPoint slides used. | 30 | 10 minutes | 1-7 | Oral and or written feedback |
| 4000 word essay on topic close to your prgoramme as advised in module handbook | 70 | 4,000 words | 1-7 | Oral and or written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation on Dissertation Methodology and a written summary of presentation to be submitted with copies of PowerPoint slides used. | Written copy of presentation on methodology, in fair copy, submitted with accompanying materials such as Power Point , handouts, etc. where appropriate | 1-7 | August-September re-assessment period |
| 4000 word essay on topic close to your programme as advised in the module handbook | 4000 word essay on topic close to your programme as advised in the module handbook | 1-7 | August/September re-assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
P. A. Atkinson (et al.). Handbook of Ethnography (Sage, 2007).
H. E. Brady and D. Collier. Rethinking Social Inquiry: Diverse Tools, Shared Standards (Rowman and Littlefield, 2004).
A. Bryman. 'Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Research: How is it done?' in Qualitative Research 6 (1), 2006: 97-113.
J. W. Creswell. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (Sage, 2008).
J. W. Creswell and V. L. Plano Clark. Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research (Sage, 2010 [2nd ed.]).
D. Della Porta and M. Keating (eds). Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences (Cambridge University Press, 2010).
R. DiYanni. Writing about the Humanities (Prentice Hall, 3rd ed., 2007)
D. Eickelman, The Middle East and Central Asia: An Anthropological Approach (Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001)
M. Hammersley and P. Atkinson. Ethnography: Principles in Practice Routledge, 2007 [3rd ed.]).
A. Hourani, Islam in European Thought (Cambridge University Press, 1981)
W. K. Storey, Writing History. A Guide for Students (Oxford University Press, 3rd, ed., 2008)
C. Marshall and G. C. Rossman. Designing Qualitative Research (Sage, 2010 [5th ed.]).
W. Outhwaite and S. W. Turner. The Sage Handbook of Social Science Methodology (Sage, 2007).
P. Pennings, H. Keman and J. Kleinnijenhuis. Doing Research in Political Science: An Introduction to Comparative Methods and Statistics (Sage, 2005 [2nd ed.]).
M. Rodinson, Europe and the Mystique of the Orient (University of Washington Press, 1987)
E. Said, Orientalism (Penguin, 1985)
D. Silverman. Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Handbook (Sage, 2010 [3rd ed.]).
D. Silverman. Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice (Sage, 2004 [3rd ed.]).
J. Sprague. Feminist Methodologies for Critical Researchers: Bridging Differences (Altamira, 2005).
V. R. Yow. Recording Oral History: A Guide for the Humanities and Social Sciences (Sage, 2005 [2nd ed.]).
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/2008 |
| Last revision date | 18/04/2016 |