Visual techniques in qualitative research 3500-FAKL-TWWBJ
In this class, we will adopt the logic behind the Canadian
turn-of-the-millennium documentary programme How It's Made,
which shows the production process of everyday objects. We will
take the thinking of the scriptwriters of this programme into the
realm of contemporary visual research. How are social data
collected using cameras and other recording technologies? How do
researchers use images and media other than words? How do they
analyse the material collected? Each meeting will be a presentation
of one research project, one researcher who uses visual elements
in their practice. We will move between the fields of sociology,
anthropology and artistic research. Through group work on the
ZOOM platform and the Miro interactive whiteboard, we will
create an atlas of visual research practices during the class.
The class is conducted by a PhD student at SDNS UW - a researcher
employed in the project 'Help delivered to Jews during World War
II and Transnational Memory in the Making' (NCN Opus, carried out
at the Centre for Social Memory Research, WS UW, directed by Dr
Zofia Wóycicka). Michalina Musielak is a specialist in visual
techniques and artistic research. She holds degrees in Visual
Anthropology from the Freie Universität in Berlin and the Academy
of Fine Arts in Warsaw.
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Can select proper research methods and techniques to conduct an
analysis of a particular problem
Can plan and carry out a social study using basic qualitative
research methods and techniques
Can comprehend a scientific text and identify its main theses and
the author’s arguments, as well as discuss them
Can critically assess sources
Knows how to plan and carry out a simple qualitative study
Has basic knowledge of major foreign, international and domestic
sociological research
Can use ethical norms and rules in research practice
Respects dignity of persons participating in a study (respondents,
informers, interviewees and other participants)
Is aware of the consequences of ongoing projects
Assessment criteria
Before each class it is recommended to read the material that will
be made available on the Google drive platform. Credit on the
basis of attendance* in class and active co-creation of an atlas of
visual research practices (40%) and a short concept for a visual
research project developed in a small group or individually (60%).
*Acceptable number of excusable absences: 2
To the hours allocated to the classroom, please add the time for
reading or viewing the assigned materials ~ 1-2h before each class
and the time to prepare a short concept for the visual research
project ~ 10-20h for the course credit.
Second term examination: the same as in the first term.
Bibliography
In this seminar we will discuss examples of visual research, which
will be supported by theoretical texts.
Selected examples:
● Joe Hunting, We met in virtual reality (film)
● John Berger, Ways of Seeing , Episode 1 (film)
● Rafał Drozdowski, Maciej Frąckowiak, Marek Krajewski,
Łukasz Rogowski, Tool Room. How we explored the
(invisible) city.
● Forensic Architecture, The Murder of Halit Yozgat
https://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/the-murder
-of-halit-yozgat (film/installation)
● Magdalena Szcześniak, Norms of Visibility. Identity in times
of transformation.
● Sharayu Wadekar https://bodiedlabour.cargo.site/
(website)
● Henk Wiechers, Looking for Glitches in Mobility Platforms.
The full list of examples discussed will be presented at the first
class and may be subject to some modification after taking into
account the expectations of the class participants.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: