Advanced
Research Methods in STS
Sp
2001 CRN31923 STSS 6120, M 10:00 – 1:00 pm, Sage 5203
Professor
Ron Eglash
Description:
This
course will survey the research methods used in STS. The class is in part
organized historically, as a way of exploring how research methods have changed
over time. However we will also emphasize the ways in which many of the earlier
methods are still used, and how they can be reintroduced in new ways. Of
special interest is the split between quantitative and qualitative methods. For
most social science students, this split simply marks one’s disciplinary
identity (e.g. “I went to graduate
school X because they emphasize a qualitative approach”). But STS is special,
because it is dedicated to questioning the split itself. Rather than letting
one side trump the other, we will attempt to put the two in productive
conversation.
To
contact instructor:
Office
Hours: Wed 11-12 and 3:00-4pm and by appointment, 5114 Sage. Email:
eglash@rpi.edu, phone: 276-2048. Course webpage: www.rpi.edu/~eglash/eglash.dir/arm.dir/arm.htm
Requirements:
Evaluation
will be based on the ethnographic project (30% each), the research project
(30%), and class participation (40%). You are required to bring the
reading to class so that we can discuss the texts in detail. Do not commit
plagiarism. If you do not understand what plagiarism is, please ask me. If you
have any special learning needs (eg physical disability), please let me know.
The
research project:
The
research project will focus on the methods you bring to bear on your
dissertation. It can be in the form of a research proposal or dissertation
chapter.
Required Texts:
Campbell, Nancy D. Using Women : Gender, Drug
Policy, and Social Justice.
Routledge 2000. ISBN: 0415924138
Hartigan, John, Princeton, N.J. Racial
situations : class predicaments of whiteness in Detroit. Princeton
University Press, c1999. ISBN: 0691028850
Optional:
Denzin, Norman K. and Lincoln, Yvonna S.,
editors. Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, London, New
Delhi: Sage Publications, 1994.
ISBN: 0761915125
Various
books and articles will be available on reserve.
Course
Schedule:
1/8:
introduction
Lecture 1: historical overview of STS and its relationship to methods. Film: “Evolving Consent.” handouts: informed consent, IRB, and AAA code of ethics. Lecture 2: historical overview of statistical approaches.
1/15
No class. MLK day
1/22
Problems of primitivism in methods: Overview: Denzin and Lincoln ch1, ch 2. Qualitative
approach to primitivism: C. Levi-Strauss, The Savage Mind ch 1.
Quantitative approach to primitivism: S. Gould, Mismeasure of Man ch 2.
1/29
Modernist qualitative methods in anthropology. Classical approach: M. Mead, Coming
of Age in Samoa intro, ch. 10. Modernist methods take a postmodern turn in
STS: S. Traweek, Beamtimes and Lifetimes ch3. B. Latour, Laboratory
Life ch 1,2. Modernist methods take postmodern turn at the hands of the
“natives”: film “Trobriand Cricket.”
2/5
The interpretative turn: C. Geertz, The Interpretation of Cultures ch 1, 15. J.
Clifford “On Ethnographic Authority,” “On Ethnographic Allegory.”
2/12
Hartigan part 1
2/19
no class (President’s day)—we meet on Tuesday 20th
2/20
Hartigan part 2
2/26
Ethnography in cyberspace: A. Mitra, “Virtual Commonality: Looking for India on
the Internet.” D. Shaw, “Gay men and computer communication.” D. Silver,
“Margins in the Wires.” T. MacPherson, “I’ll take my stand in Dixie-Net.”
3/12
no class (spring break).
3/19
Discourse analysis: Denzin and Lincoln ch 9, 15, 31
3/26
Campbell part 1
4/2 Campbell part 2
4/9
Ethnoknowledge methodology: Lave, Eglash
4/16
Artificial societies: Resnick, Epstein. Software experiments.
4/23
Research project presentations