Universität Wien
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150116 UE Cultural Studies Research Methods in Chinese Studies (2023W)

Interview as method in the Cultural Studies

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 15 - Ostasienwissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
ON-SITE
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 05.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Thursday 12.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Thursday 19.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Thursday 09.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Thursday 16.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Thursday 23.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Thursday 30.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Thursday 07.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Thursday 14.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Thursday 11.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Thursday 18.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Thursday 25.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

INTRODUCTION
Interviews are a regular feature of our society. From TV news to YouTube, from documentary films to telephone surveys, interviews are so ingrained in everyday life that we tend to assume we know “how they work”. This practice-oriented course is designed to question these preconceptions, acquire a nuanced understanding of interviews, and learn to conduct them independently.

A solid grasp of interview as a method is a necessary skill in a researcher’s toolbox: structured or unstructured, qualitative or quantitative, interviews play a crucial role in cultural studies. Not only are they an invaluable source of information, they also question the roles of both interviewer (i.e. knowledge producer) and interviewee (i.e. informant), and the complex dynamics between them.

The course highlights the interactive/dialectic character of interviews, as a method of knowledge (co)production among equal subjects, rather than a technique for extracting information from “objects” of knowledge.

COURSE AIMS
By attending this course participants will acquire a well-rounded understanding of interviews, their function in academic research and use in artistic practices. At the end of the course participants will have a solid foundation in interviews as a method, and will be able to plan and conduct qualitative interviews independently. Under the supervision of the lecturer, participants will connect with artists and cultural workers directly, carry out interview(s) with them, and produce a written report to present their results.

- PART 1 of the course will start with an overview of research methods in cultural studies, and then focus on interviews. Participants will familiarise with ethnographic approaches, different kinds of interviews, and learn to incorporate them in a research project. Special attention will be paid to issues topical to Chinese studies.

- PART 2 will zoom in on interviews as a methodology in artistic practices. Creatives from China and the sinosphere (i.e. directors, producers) will join our sessions, in-person and on-line, to present their work and engage in conversations. Participants will observe how interviews are employed in the arts (i.e. film, theatre, etc) and reflect on their use as a tool for social engagement.

Assessment and permitted materials

- ACTIVE PARTICIPATION: 20%
- INTERVIEW PLAN DEVELOPMENT: 20%
- FINAL WRITTEN REPORT: 40%
- ORAL DISCUSSION OF THE REPORT: 20%

* All assignments need to be fulfilled to attain a positive overall grade *

* The final written report MUST be passed to pass the course, regardless of the partial grades achieved in the other assignments *

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
The working language for the course is English. All core readings, in English, will be uploaded on Moodle after the course starts; screenings (films, video-recordings) will have either English or German subtitles. Although proficiency in Chinese is not a prerequisite, students with Chinese language competences are encouraged to use written and oral Chinese in interviews and discussion sessions.

MINIMUM ATTENDANCE
The maximum unjustified absences allowed is 2 sessions. Starting from the 3rd absence the course instructor may, at their own discretion, either deregister or fail the student.

AI POLICY
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for editing, proofreading, and improving the quality and clarity of writing is permitted and encouraged (e.g. for checking spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, word choice, language polishing and revision). The use of generative AI tools (text generation tools) in the final report is not permitted. Besides being prone to error and false information (especially on specialized topics), it is against the principles of academic integrity and considerable as a form of plagiarism.

Examination topics

Reading list

Participants will receive a complete reading list after the start of the course.

For a preliminary overview see: Pickering, Michael, ed. "Research Methods for Cultural Studies". Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2022. (Introduction)

Association in the course directory

UE GG/LK

Last modified: Tu 14.01.2025 00:16