Unit information: Anthropological Methods in 2022/23

Unit name	Anthropological Methods
Unit code	ARCH20048
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Tantam
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	NONE
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	NONE
Units you may not take alongside this one	n/a
School/department	Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

This unit aims to acquaint students with a range of anthropological methodologies and techniques, especially those that underlie the specific topics of units encountered in their programme. Students will have an opportunity to experience first-hand how knowledge is produced and anthropological data is collected, through fieldwork, observation and measurement, interviews and questionnaires, and archival/library research. Data collection, synthesis, and analysis will all be covered, using a range of quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Aims:

• To explore the varieties of possible approaches to anthropological research.
• To equip students with skills for the collection and analysis of a range of anthropological data.
• To give students practical experience in conducting anthropological fieldwork.
• To give students experience in preparing and managing a research project.
• To give students experience in discussing, writing-up and presenting their results.

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion students will be able to:

• 1. identify and discuss the specific research methods associated with anthropology as a discipline.
• 2. demonstrate knowledge of and report practical experience of methods such as interviewing, qualitative and quantitative data sets, thematic/discourse analysis, statistical analysis, and forms of presentation.
• 3. recognise the appropriate anthropological methods used to answer different sorts of research questions.
• 4. recognise and discuss the ways in which anthropology is inherently multi-disciplinary.
• 5. describe and appraise the process of conducting research, including the ethical implications of being a researcher with human subjects.
• 6. design a research question and plan a tractable project that answers the question.
• 7. plan, conduct and write a small research project.

How you will learn

Weekly lectures, and practicals, supported by self-directed activities

How you will be assessed

Research method assessment, 1000 words (0%, required for credit – formative) [ILOs 1-7].

Project proposal, 2500 words (100%) [ILOs 1-7].

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ARCH20048).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.