Research Methods in Ethnomusicology – ETHM 650

CG • Section 8WK • 11/10/2019 to 04/18/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

Introduction to research methodologies in preparation for completion of the master's thesis or capstone project in ethnomusicology.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

The primary purpose of this course is to guide the student into making informed and appropriate choices in developing research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies, and designing research proposals in ethnomusicology. The final outcome of this course is the preparation of a preliminary research proposal, which may ultimately serve as the student’s research proposal for the master’s project or thesis and/or design of the field experience.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to post a thread in response to the provided prompt for each Discussion. Each thread must be at least 300 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 150 words.

Writing Exercise Assignments (3)

The writing exercises vary in length and type. All writing exercises must include a cover page and bibliography and use current Turabian formatting properly. The number of required citations will also vary by assignment.

The thesis project that serves as the focal point toward which this course's assignments build necessitates both a faculty advisor and reader. The Committee Formation Assignment is designed to assist with the process of selecting faculty to fill these roles. This assignment unfolds in three separate parts:

  1. Committee Formation: Part 1 - Selection and Email Draft Assignment
  2. Committee Formation: Part 2 - Email Submission Assignment
  3. Committee Formation: Part 3 - Chair Pairing Submission Assignment

Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative Assignment

By going through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) online course, the student will have a deeper idea of what kind of concerns surround research and human subjects.

Final Paper Assignments (3)

The student will complete and submit a preliminary proposal for their thesis or field project. The student should consult additional research design materials in planning the research project, specifically materials that deal more comprehensively with the type of research being conducted (e.g., survey, ethnography, case studies, phenomenology, etc.). This paper will be completed in stages, first as the Topic Submission Assignment, then as a Working Version, and lastly as the Final Paper. No length is set for this paper, but it needs to include all necessary front matter (including the thesis proposal cover sheet, title page, and table of contents), chapters 1, 2, & 3 of the proposal, any necessary back matter, and a bibliography (Consult The Components of the Master's Thesis or Project and ETHM 690 Syllabus - PDFs located in Module 6). Current Turabian formatting must be used.