MB523: Cognitive Analysis of
Culture (4 units)
Craig Rusch, Visiting Assistant Professor of
Anthropology
Spring 2005 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
Missiologists,
in aiming to understand worldview and culture change, have adopted the methods
of many disciplines and employed them to analyze and interpret people with whom
they work and study. A missing
connection exists between culture theory, methodology and cognition in
examining the core beliefs and values of a society. This course attempts to bridge cognition and culture at the level
of schema and cultural models that combine meaning systems of a people with
computer-based methodologies that enhance the analysis and interpretation of
worldview themes that largely operate outside of explicit awareness, yet are
motivational for interaction and communication, both within and across
cultures.
LEARNING
OUTCOMES:
• To understand the
core linkages between culture, language and methodology expressed in Spradley’s
Ethnographic Perspective.
• To understand and apply psychologically
plausible constructs to culturally embedded domains of interaction, discourse
and behavior.
• To analyze data via advanced computer
modeling software.
• To make connections between a cognitive
perspective on culture through analyzed beliefs, values and themes, and apply
these findings to missiological objectives.
• To make connections between a cognitive
perspective on culture and expressive forms in culture used to mediate
interaction.
COURSE
FORMAT:
This
course will meet once a week for three hours.
The classroom experience will be a combination of lecture, discussion,
computer program demonstrations and presentations by students in a seminar environment.
REQUIRED READING:
Spradley, J.P Participant Observation (1980) OR The
Ethnographic Interview (1979) Harcourt Brace.
D’Andrade, R. The Development of
Cognitive Anthropology (1995). Cambridge.
Bernard, H.R. Handbook of Methods In Cultural
Anthropology (1998). Alta Mira. {note: On Reserve: 100 pages relevant to
the students project is required}
Moore, C.C. and H.F. Mathews, The
Psychology of Cultural Experience (2001).
Cambridge
Use of Anthropac 4.91x or higher
(Current Version 4.98). Available from www.analytictech.com
Any one book from the Culture and Cognition Bibliography (To be handed out)
ASSIGNMENTS:
•
Submit an annotated bibliography of assigned readings.
• Write a 5,000 word (20 page) term paper or carry out a methodological project
applying theory and using computer modeling software. Students will describe
the connection of theory and methods to the missiological task in as explicit a
manner as is possible giving case based examples from their research.
• 20 min individual presentation to the class based on research conducted over
the quarter
ThM Students: Additional 500 word paper
indicating how course content fits into the conceptualization, research and
writing or the student’s Research/Writing Project.
Doctoral Students: Course may be used as a methods
course for analyzing cultural data.
Will be expected to critique the theoretical structures and evaluate
them for missiological application and/or relevance to their dissertation
topic. An addendum to methods section
of their Research Design Paper will be added to written assignments. A
presentation relating to chosen research focus, showing the rationale,
theoretic objectives and missiological implications for their particular
research topic is required.
PREREQUISITES:
M520 Permission
of Instructor CRusch@vanguard.edu; MB550 recommended.
Students should bring data from their field
ministry context or other courses for analysis in this course. Field research will be part of the
requirements for this course.
RELATIONSHIP
TO CURRICULUM: Meets research requirement for ICS program.
FINAL
EXAM: None.