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ANTH2187: Research Project Design

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Type Tied
Level 2
Credits 10
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Anthropology

Prerequisites

  • Doing Anthropological Research (ANTH1101) or a relevant methods module in another department.

Corequisites

  • Biology, Culture and Society (ANTH2207) OR Reading Ethnography (ANTH2197) OR Debating Anthropology and Archaeology (ANTH2121)

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To build upon previous methods training by providing the skills necessary to develop independent dissertation projects.

Content

  • The module prepares students for independent dissertation research through a series of lectures and practical sessions around choosing a research topic, identifying literature, selecting appropriate methods and ethical considerations.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Understanding of the research process in anthropology and related disciplines, including the collection and manipulation of data, research design, analysis of literature, and the relationships between data and argument.
  • Understanding of research ethics and data management in anthropology and related disciplines.
  • Integrating data, approaches and literature from different disciplines, including social anthropology, biological anthropology and archaeology.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Preparing a dissertation research proposal in anthropology (including identifying research questions, identifying and engaging critically with literature, selecting appropriate research methods and preparing and ethics application).
  • Conducting literature searches and developing library research skills.
  • Developing qualitative and quantitative research skills.

Key Skills:

  • Proposal writing skills.
  • Preparing an ethics application and applying ethical guidelines in research.
  • Planning and time management.
  • Carrying out independent research.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Hour-long lectures covering different aspects of the research process, from choosing a topic, project design, ethics and data management, and literature searches to data analysis interpretation, writing skills and developing arguments. Most lectures will be live while some may be pre-recorded.
  • Workshop will provide students will the opportunity to develop their ethics application in a small group with support from an experienced tutor.
  • Students will develop their ideas with a proposal supervisor via consultations.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures5Michaelmas term (weekly in the last five weeks of term)1 hour5 
Workshop1Easter term1 hour1Yes
Consultations with supervisor6Epiphany and Easter term20 minutes2Yes
Preparation and Reading92 
Total100 

Summative Assessment

Component: CourseworkComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Dissertation proposal including ethics application2500 words100Yes

Formative Assessment

Preliminary research proposal (750 words).

More information

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