2025 CUHK Anthropology Methods Summer Workshop

The CUHK Anthropology Methods Summer Workshop will be held again this summer of 2025. It will teach anthropology students about research design and train them in qualitative and ethnographic research methods.

Target Students

The Workshop is aimed at upper-level undergraduates and Masters students majoring or minoring in Anthropology, Ethnology or related disciplines intending to pursue postgraduate degrees in Anthropology. It assumes students have an introductory background knowledge in anthropology/ethnology.

Priority will be given to final year undergraduates and MA/MPhil students who will soon be applying to PhD programmes. All students will be expected to be able to function at a high level in English since that will be the primary language of the Workshop.

When

Friday 20 June to Tuesday 24 June 2025. A half-day fieldtrip will be included for practical skills training.

Seminar Topics

Research Design: How to Frame a Proposal for Ethnographic Research
Research Ethics in Anthropology
The Literature Review
The Statement of Goals and Significance
Planning for and entering the field
Interviewing Skills
When and How to Use Questionnaires
Participant Observation and Rapport
Keeping and Retrieving Field Notes
Direct and Unobtrusive Observation
Using and Analyzing Visual Media
Text Analysis and Identifying Themes
Ethnographic Writing

Academic instructor

Dr. Joseph Bosco, who has retired from the Department, will lead the workshop. Dr. Bosco taught the postgraduate methods seminar for 24 years, and was Graduate Division Head for 19 years. He will attend all sessions with the students. Current teachers from the Department will participate in some parts and join in meals. Advanced PhD students in the Anthropology Department will discuss their fieldwork experiences and answer questions, giving participants a practical and deeper understanding of fieldwork.

Costs and Expenses

The Workshop is free. Students are expected to cover the cost of transportation to Hong Kong and to the CUHK campus and also meals during the Workshop (a meal at a student canteen costs around HK$30-60). Free on-campus accommodation will be provided. Accepted students will be asked to pay a HK$1000 deposit that will be refunded once they arrive for the Workshop.

Application

The application deadline is 1 April, 2025 (GMT+8).

The application includes:

an application form
academic transcripts
proof of English ability; TOEFL or IELTS scores preferred
two letters of recommendation
two short essays with the prompts “I want to pursue postgraduate studies in anthropology because…” and “The research topic I am most interested in is….”

Online application form: https://cloud.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/webform/view.php?id=13705309