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Fieldwork and Field Report
This course and its exam are linked to a variety of general rules. For information about these rules,
please read the Curriculum for the Master of MSc and People-Centred Business
Course content The MSc programme in Anthropology and People-Centred Business
culminates in the fieldwork project, which will be the basis of the student’s
Master’s Thesis. The fieldwork project is planned and carried out
independently by student, according to the guidelines specified in the
Fieldwork Synopsis. Fieldwork can take place in a variety of socio-cultural
contexts but must be relevant to the Anthropology of Business. Students can
freely choose the location and specific theme for their fieldwork but their
choice must be approved by one of the teachers responsible for
Anthropology and People-Centred Business. Apart from this, their choice is
only limited by research-ethical and safety conditions.
The Fieldwork can be executed individually or in small groups. It can be a
part of a larger research project or take the form of a project-oriented work
(internship). The fieldwork must last between 16 and 18 weeks and within
this period the Field Report must be submitted (approx. 2 weeks after
concluding research). The Board of Studies sets a date in each semester for
the submission of the Field Report. The Field Report cannot be submitted
after this deadline.
The fieldwork counts as a course for which the student must register.
During Fieldwork, students must gather data using anthropological
methods. Relevant material must also be collated for the purpose of
contextualising the main body of data collated.
When the fieldwork is executed within the context of a private business or
organisation, a contract must be drawn up and signed by the student, the
organisation and the Department of Anthropology. The student signs the
contract in cooperation with the Fieldwork coordinator. This contract
ensures the student's right to generate data while carrying out Project-
oriented work (internship) or Fieldwork, sets down guidelines for the use
and publication of data, and outlines procedures that are to be followed
should disagreements arise between the student and the
company/organisation. The contract must be approved and signed by the
relevant parties and must as far as possible be handed in as an appendix to
the synopsis. Students can find a standard agreement for cooperation with
3
rd
parties on the department’s homepage.
Description of aims Halfway Field Report
Halfway through the fieldwork, the students must write an academic report,
demonstrating clear language and argumentation. The report should exhibit
that the student is capable of:
• accounting for the fieldwork's purpose, locality, context and
processes, as well as the reasons behind any changes to the research
