JAP4020 – Methodologies and Data Collection in Japanese Studies
Course content
This course is designed for students who have taken JAP4010, selected a topic of the master’s thesis and have been assigned a supervisor (JAP4010). In this course you study different methodologies, choose the methods that are most suitable for your MA thesis, and collect some of the sources or data on which your MA thesis will be based. This is done individually, in close consultation with your supervisor.
Depending on your specific topic of research, data may be collected from, for instance:
- historical, political, literary, or other kinds of texts
- interviews, participant observation, or other kinds of fieldwork
- digital corpora
- online sources, films, various media etc.
During the course, you will read and summarize literature that critically assesses the research methodologies that you wish to apply. You identify a set of sources or data and start working on them, and give a presentation of your findings. Some of these sources or data should be in Japanese.
Learning outcome
- Ability to critically reflect on the relevance of different research methodologies.
- Ability to identify and collect primary sources and data that are necessary to answer a given research question.
- Ability to assess the relevance and validity of those sources.
- Depending on your chosen methodology for collecting and analyzing data, you will practice how to interpret Japanese texts (fiction and non-fiction), how to conduct fieldwork in Japanese, how to find historical texts in archives, how to select a corpus and utilize it, or how to work as a researcher in Japan.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Admission to the MA programme Japanese Studies.
Teaching
There is no mandatory teaching in this course. You will discuss data collection and chosen methodologies with your supervisor in order to obtain individual advice regarding suitable methodology for your chosen research topic.
Compulsory activities
- It is mandatory for you to be in contact with your supervisor throughout the course (either through meetings, Skype, phone or e-mail in case you or the supervisor are abroad).
- You must give a presentation of your main findings for your co-students towards the end of the semester. Students who are abroad can do this via Skype or similar means.
An approved oral presentation is valid for the next two semesters that the course is taught. All compulsory activities must be approved in order to qualify for the exam. It is the student’s responsibility to check whether or not the compulsory activities are approved.
This is how you apply for valid absence from compulsory activities/compulsory attendance.
Examination
The exam consists of a portfolio:
- A term paper of ca. 3500 words. The paper needs to account for and discuss one or more methods that you will employ in your MA thesis, reflecting on the strengths but also the limitations of your chosen methodology. It also has to contain reflections on this process based on at least two relevant academic publications regarding research methodology.
- A written account of the results of your work with the concrete sources or data that you will use in your MA thesis. Depending on the nature of the material the word count will vary, but the volume of this assignment should be comparable to the term paper. Depending on the nature of your research, this may be a selection of Japanese sources, with partial resumes or translations; a field report; or some other format to be decided in dialogue with your supervisor.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.