Online Is Not Just as Good as F2F for Teaching Research Methods – It’s Better

Abstract

We know, from many studies, the advantages and disadvantages of online learning.1 No need to go over them here. There are, however, several important lessons about the teaching of research methods—like statistics, text analysis, network analysis, cultural domain analysis, direct and unobtrusive observation, etc.—online that may not be obvious: 1. It is more effective in achieving learning objectives than in-person instruction. 2. It is the best way to ensure that students will focus their attention on the work. 3. It is the only way to scale up the teaching of methods and to make that teaching available to the anthropology students who want it but cannot get it in any other way