Culture Studies Research

Kulturološko raziskovanje

Course credits:

6.00 ECTS / 60 (30 hours of lectures, 0 hours of exercises, 30 hours of seminars, 0 hours other forms of work)

Course holder:

prof. dr. Aljoša Pužar

Lecturers:

• Assoc. Prof. Natalija Majsova

Type:

Required

Language:

English

Semester:

Second semester

Study degree

1. level

Course execution:

• Undergraduate Programme of Cultural studies - Studies of Culture and Creativity

Prerequisits:

Students are allowed to participate in the course provided that they have completed the enrolment procedure.

Objectives and competences

Main objective is to teach students of culturology to formulate sound and relevant research questions, concerning the area of cultural phenomena/problems. Turn around a rather strange habit as to knowing the result even beforehand of any true (empirical) research. Competences around this main objectives are the following. Research strategies, typical research stages. Methodic further elaboration of research questions into research design. Selection and usage of the proper analytical method (intial training for separation of qualitative and quantitative approaches, methods), researh reporting. Introduction into an autonomous study and team work for project tasks (of a project report). Application of modern informatique tools for improving a specific student's analytical-informatics literacy (internet, media technologies for content analysis, biblio-sources).

Content (Syllabus outline)

Main components: - Development of interdisciplinar cultural studies in the world: a variety of traditions, lingusitic and cultural turn, from structuralism to culturalism (White & Schwoch). - Dual origins/conceptualization of culturology in Slovenia (Mali). - Hermeneutic principles and discoursivity in research of cultural phenomena (texts, contexts, sign systems in general). - Adjustment of traditional research procedures for comparative investigation of live cultural prctices (Saukko). - Research question and Basic interactive research design (Maxwell). - Further elaboration of research question into conceptual model, its operationalization (either in the form of thought experiment or a real evidence-based research), with regard to the level of formalization of empirics (Tilly). - Analytical methods, various approaches (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, methods-chain). - Visualization and interpretation of results. - Validity of research (adjustments, specialties). - Construction of research report (for smaller projects). - Principles and elements of academic work and writing, ethical concenrs. - (through a course) Application of ICT in different research stages, methods. Modern bibliographic sources and data archives. Speech at public places.

Intended learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding: A student should become aware of a special position of cultural studies within the field of social sciences and humanities. Historically, cultural studies appeared as a critique of elite culture (historic materialism, early structuralism) and mass consumer culture (Frankfurt school), as well as of an exagerated positivism in dealing with culture as such. Therefore, an epistemic turn was needed to cope better with many marginalized and new themes, new objects, new approaches and new handling of many live cultural practices (evidences, actions, processes and more complex phenomena). The discipline mainly apply argumentation and analytical methods from interpretative (critical) paradigms, inspired by ideas and concepts of 'post-structuralism'. Quite often, it applies mixed research strategies (upon hermenutics' principle - using permanent change of a distant-close take), from case studies on one side to survey techniques on the other. It is also important to comprehend a salient impact of interdisciplinarity on multi-dimensional treatment of cultural phenomena and artistic practices, namely, on a durable coexistence of cultural studies with media studies, history, social sciences, antropology, humanities and philosophy. During their learning, studying and research efforts, students excercise a lot of RR examples, what may eventually sharpen their insights and skills about how to initiate, elaborate, and adjust their research question, design and stages their prior knowledge, the chosen paradigm, the theoretical sources, the evidences and methods available, sometimes the goals as well. Also, important dimensions of effective research are also a sound acccount with validity of research and ethical considerations. Finally, course discussions from time to time touch also employment signals from labour markets.

Learning and teaching methods:

Main manners of teaching are lectures (classical, multimedia, combined), augmented with live discussion around key literature (autonomous individual study and learning, coursework, seminars). They should deepen a student's own research focus and skills.

Assessment

1.) one Methodology-related paper: around 1500 words (30% of the grade) 2.) one personal research project and report (50% of the grade) • project proposal (450-600 words) • final report (2000 words minimum) 3.) active participation and analytical work in the classroom (20%) 4.) attendance is obligatory. Alternative to attendance (with previous permission) is an additional personal research project (a project proposal and the final report).

Obligatory literature

Additional literature