General course 2016: Gender as an analytical dimension - theoretical positions - methodological consequences
The theme for the general course in 2014 was theoretical positions in current Norwegian gender research and how different scholars use the concept of gender in their own research.
In this year’s course we take this question one step further and ask: do theoretical positions translate into methodological choices? In what ways and to what extent do theoretical and methodological choices depend on the topic of the research, the research questions, and on the phenomena one wants to grasp? What are the range and limits for different theoretical and methodological approaches? What are different theories and methods suited for, and for what might they be less suitable?
The course will not be the kind of methodology course that trains you in working with specific methods. The emphasis will instead be on presenting a broad spectre of methodological approaches and inviting the participants to reflect on their own research practice. The aim is to promote an understanding of how theory, methodological choices and content are related. We have invited the speakers who presented their theoretical position at the 2014 course, and also a few others to get a broader composition of methodological approaches. All the plenary speakers will briefly present the main theoretical position they work from - so new participants will be able to join from here!
The course is a collaboration between the gender research centers and communities in Norway. The idea behind the general course is that it should not only be an ordinary credit-giving course for PhD candidates in the field of gender studies, but also a broader academic meeting place: a place for ongoing debate about this interdisciplinary field, a place that fosters dialogue between established and new scholars in the field, and a place where PhD candidates from different communities can meet and are included in the Norwegian gender studies community.
Thus, we invite both PhD candidates and senior scholars to participate. Ideally we would like an even mix of older and younger scholars, but PhD candidates will be given priority in case of overbooking.
Course leader
Harriet Bjerrum Nielsen, Center for Gender Research, UiO, and the board of the National Research School.
Time and place
7-9 December, 2016, at Sundvolden Hotel, Dronningveien 2, 3531 Krokkleiva.
The course will start with lunch at 11.30-12.30 on Wednesday 7 December and end Friday 9 December around 4PM.
Easy access to the hotel by bus, about 1 hour from Oslo, Lysaker and Oslo Airport Gardermoen.
Language
The course will be conducted in English. It will, however, be possible for PhD candidates to present their papers also in Nordic languages if they prefer.
Registration
Expired 15 October.
Course plan and programme
The course will consist of plenary lectures and workshops (in smaller groups). In the workshops, the lecturers (who will be present for the entire duration of the course) will comment on the PhD candidates’ project presentations. A course curriculum is compiled and sent out for everyone to read before the course.
Wednesday 7.12
11.00-12.30: Registration, rooms, lunch
12.30-14.30: Theoretical positions - methodological consequences - part I
Words of welcome - from Harriet Bjerrum Nielsen, director of the National Research School.
Lectures:
Can you measure gender equality?
by Mari Teigen, deputy director, research professor and head of CORE at Institute of Social Research, Oslo
Gender as power and meaning - methodological consequences
by Eirinn Larsen, associate professor at the Department of Archeology, Conservation and History, University of Oslo
14.30-15.00: Coffee break
15.00-17.00: Workshop, session I - project presentations
17.15-19.00: Theoretical positions - methodological consequences - part II
Representation of gender and/in visual culture
by Sigrun Åsebø, associate professor at Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies, Universitety of Bergen
Ethnography and Discourse Analysis – an awkward combination?
by Christine M. Jacobsen, professor and academic director at Centre for Women’s and Gender research, University of Bergen:
19.30: Dinner and social gathering
Thursday 8.12
08.00-09.00: Breakfast
09.00-12.00: Theoretical positions - methodological consequences - part III
Lectures (with short breaks in between):
Praxiography - zooming in, zooming out
by Ann Therese Lotherington, professor and academic director at KVINNFORSK, University of Tromsø
Searching for emotional investments: psychosocial approaches
by Helene Aarseth, associate professor at Centre for Gender Research, University of Oslo
The affirmative dimension of critique, or: how to address the unconscious
by Kari Jegerstedt, associate professor at the Centre for Women’s and Gender Research, University of Bergen:
12.00-13.30 Lunsj
13.30-15.30: Workshop, session II - project presentations
15.30-16.00: Coffee break
16.00-18.00: Workshop, session III - project presentations
18.00-19.00: Short plenary
19.30: Dinner and social gathering
Friday 9.12
08.00-09.00: Breakfast
09.00-11.00: Theoretical positions - methodological consequences - part IV
Lectures:
Multi-sites and multi-perspectives on gender
by Merete Lie, professor and academic director of the Center for Gender Studies, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture, NTNU
Gender in practice - situational analysis and combination of methods
by Siri Øyslebø Sørensen, postdoctor at the Center for Gender Studies, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture, NTNU
Short break
11.00-14.00: Workshop, session IV - project presentations
(including lunch break 12.00-13.00)
14.15-15: Coffee, short evaluation, farewell
(Buss for Gardermoen leaves 15.21, buss for Oslo leaves 15.40)
Workshops with project presentations
In addition to lectures and a panel debate, there will be group sessions where the PhD candidates present their work-in-progress, analyses and texts. Active participation in the group sessions is required. PhD candidates must submit a short written project presentation before the course, and give an oral presentation with a focus on methodology questions in the group.
To the extent that time allows, senior scholars will also be able to present their projects. For the oral presentation we ask people to reflect on their projects in light of the course theme: What is the relation between the topic I want to investigate in the project, my research questions, my theoretical position(s) and the methodological approached I use?
The project description (4-5 pages) must be submitted by 15 November 2016 at the latest, to Harriet Bjerrum Nielsen at STK: h.b.nielsen@stk.uio.no. The project description will work as background information for the oral presentation which should focus on the questions above and have a length of appr. 15 minutes.
Curriculum and approval
The bibliography is about 600 pages and the PhD candidates are expected to read before the course. Curriculum.
The course is estimated to 3 ECTS credits without, and 5 ECTS with a written essay handed in after the course (deadline for essay is 1 Feb 2017). This implies that active participation, reading the curriculum, written project description and oral presentation with reflections on the methodology of the project will give 3 credits, and that a voluntary essay written after the course will give 2 credits in addition. The essay should be on 5000-6000 words (excluded title page, abstracts, figures/illustrations and references). Beware that all PhD candidates are responsible themselves for applying to their own PhD programmes for approval of the course (this should be done in advance). It is these PhD programmes that have the final say in the number of credits given for the course and the essay.
Practical information
The course is free, but participants must cover their own travel and accommodation and subsistence expenses.
The Research School offers reduced price accommodation for PhD candidates. Full board rates, all three days included, are as follows:
PhD candidates/single room: 2500 NOK (double room 2100 NOK)
Others/single room: 3500 NOK (double room 3100 NOK)
The accomodation fee is to be paid latest by 15 November 2016 by use of an epay link which will be included in the mail confirming the registration (in late October). The confirmation is final only after payment.
NB: the accomodation fee will be reimbursed for cancellations no later that 29 November. After this date the registration is binding and there will be no reimbursement in case of no show or delayed arrival.
It is possible for PhD students to apply for a grant from the Research School to cover travel expenses. Application for this is done in the registration sheme. Priority will be given to those who have the furthest to travel.
It is advisable to book your ticket well in advance if you plan a flight back on Friday afternoon.
Information about Sundvolden Hotel: http://www.sundvolden.no
Arrival by bus:
From Oslo: 45-60 minutes
From Gardermoen by Hadeland: 70 minutes
From Gardermoen by Lysaker (airport train) 1 hour, 15 minutes
It is expected that all participants stay for the entire duration of the course. In case of necessary absences, please let us know at registration so that we can adjust the food order and group composition.
More information regarding registration and practicalities: Ragni Indahl, ragni.indahl@stk.uio.no
More information regarding the course plan and content: Harriet Bjerrum Nielsen, h.b.nielsen@stk.uio.no
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