Numbering Code	U-LET30 17331 LJ45	Year/Term	2022 ・ First semester
Number of Credits	2	Course Type	special lecture
Target Year		Target Student
Language	English	Day/Period	Fri.2
Instructor name	ASATO WAKO (Graduate School of Letters Associate Professor)
Outline and Purpose of the Course	This class will cover social research methods, particularly qualitative research. In view of the relaxed restrictions on movement under COVID-19, we are also planning to conduct fieldwork. Social research is a process and method of recognizing and understanding social phenomena by collecting data from the real world through observation, interviews, questionnaires, etc., and then by analyzing, interpreting, and integrating the obtained data. Through social research, we become aware of why certain phenomena occur, the relationship between structure and agency, the gap between institutions and reality, how people think and why they think the way they do, and finally, we believe that researchers approach social reality through research. Although there are many books on social research methods, this class will focus primarily on how to think about methodology rather than discussing methodology per se as a technical issue. In addition, since this class is mainly for the Joint Degree Master of Arts Program in Transcultural Studies, fieldwork in Kyoto City will be conducted in addition to reviewing previous academic works on Japanese social institutions. About Japanese Social Institutions and Fieldwork The main topics will be multiculturalism and Buraku (outcast community). The fieldwork will take place in Higashikujo in Kyoto City, where Korean residents, newcomers to Japan, and other foreigners live. Outcast communities have been historically formed and are scattered throughout Kyoto City. Although they have already disappeared institutionally, the discrimination itself remains today and is also considered important as a historical lesson. In this class, we will continue to learn about the historical background of the Outcast community and learn about the Outcast community today through visits to archives and other facilities.
Course Goals	To be able to conceptualize society through primary data gathering in Kyoto. This class requires field research within Kyoto to conceptualize Kyoto itself so that students can grasp Kyoto by collecting data and interpreting what is going on through field visit.
Schedule and Contents	The organization of course is as follows. 1. introduction 2. qualitative research (1) 3. qualitative research (2) 4. qualitative research (3) 5. history and society (outcast community field visit) 6. field visit to community 7. diversity in Kyoto (field visit to migrant community center) 8. listening and writing anthropology 9. education in Japan (field visit to public schools) 10. Japan as welfare society (field visit to welfare organization) 11. Pandemic and Migration 12. Students presentation (1) 13. Students presentation (2) 14. Students presentation (3) 15. conclusion / feedback schedule may change due to scheduling.
Evaluation Methods and Policy	reflection papers(50%) and term paper(50%)
Course Requirements	None
Study outside of Class (preparation and review)	This course is also available for those who plan to write a paper without using qualitative research methods.
Textbooks	Textbooks/References	Corrigall-Brown, Catherine, 2020, Imagining Sociology: An Introduction with Readings, 2nd ed., Ontario: Oxford University Press Canada. Marvasti, Amir, B., 2004, Qualitative Research in Sociology, London: Sage Publications. Mirfakhraie, Amir, 2019, A Critical introduction to Sociology: Modernity, Colonialism, Nation-Building, Post-Modernity, Dubuque: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. Scheper-Hughes, Nancy, 1995, “The Primacy of the Ethical: Propositions for a Militant Anthropology,”Current Anthropology, 36(3): 409-440. Scheper-Hughes, Nancy, 2009, “The Ethics of Engaged Ethnography: Applying a militant Anthropology in Organs-Trafficking Research,” Anthropology News: 13-14. Francis, Nyamnjoh, B., 2015, “Beyond an evangelising public anthropology: science, theory and commitment,” Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 33 (1): 48- 63.