Ethnography Lab

About Us

The MSU Denver Ethnography Lab is located in CN 106S.  For more information, and to reserve and check out equipment, call 303-605-5807.

Lab Overview and Facilities

The MSU Denver Ethnography Lab is a research and training facility dedicated to the documentation and analysis of human culture. As a professional data-gathering method, ethnography involves cultural and linguistic immersion in the community under study and the collection of qualitative data through participant-observation, interviewing, recording of naturally-occurring social interaction, and other techniques. Analysis centers on the patterns and substance of human beliefs and practices as they relate to a diverse set of real world communities and issues.

Housed within the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, the MSU Denver Ethnography Lab facilitates access to state-of-the-art field equipment and technologies used by professional ethnographers, including high-quality digital audio and video recording equipment, lapel microphones, smartpens, and headsets. PC work stations are outfitted with software for transcribing, analyzing, and archiving digital audio, video, and textual data. The facility also houses a small library. The lab supports courses in cultural and linguistic anthropology, as well as sociology and linguistics, providing undergraduate students with hands-on training in ethnographic data-gathering and qualitative data analysis.

Tutoring

Tutoring is available by appointment for the following courses:

• ANT 1310: Intro to Cultural Anthropology
• ANT 2330: Cross-Cultural Communication
• ANT 2500: Anthropology of Language

To schedule a tutoring appointment with one of our student staff, please email [email protected]. In your email, please specify which course you would like tutoring in and who your instructor is for that course.

Ongoing Professional Research Projects

Ethnography Lab Personnel

Ethnography Lab Director: 
Rebecca Forgash, PhD

Department of Sociology and Anthropology Lab Coordinator:
Jill Scott, MA

 

Fall 2023 Ethnography Lab Student Staff

Hisashi Araya-Kjeseth

Hisashi Araya-Kjeseth is a senior at MSU Denver, majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Biology. Hisashi came to the United States from Japan in 2006 and is fluent in both Japanese and English. His hobbies include Judo and swimming.

 

 

Zay Cann

Zay Cann is a junior at MSU Denver double majoring in Anthropology and Theater. They love learning about new cultures, analyzing language, and trying new foods. Outside of school, they enjoy dancing, thrifting, baking, and learning acrobatics.

 

 

Marissa Erickson

Marissa Erickson is a senior at MSU Denver double majoring in Anthropology and IDP Interdisciplinary Community Studies. She loves learning about culture, language, interaction, and historical social/cultural movements. In her free time, Marissa likes playing instruments, growing rare and ancient plant varieties, and making art.

 

Sophia Gordon

Sophia Gordon is the current Student Lab Lead, and is a senior at MSU Denver, majoring in Anthropology and minoring in English. She loves exploring new cultures and perspectives and has an interest in learning languages. In her free time Sophia enjoys reading, playing piano, cooking, and writing.

 

 

Lucien Herzog

Lucien Herzog is a senior at MSU Denver, majoring in Linguistics and double-minoring in Japanese and Spanish. He has always loved studying languages and learning how they work. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, drawing, and attempting to catch up on Critical Role.