ARCH8020 Research Methods in Archaeology

2017

4.5

1 x 1-hour independent study weekly

1 Admission into GDPMA-Graduate Diploma in Maritime Archaeology
1a Admission into MARCH-Master of Archaeology
1b Admission into MMARCHA-Master of Maritime Archaeology [1.5 years]
1c Admission into GDPSM-Graduate Diploma in Screen and Media Production
1d Admission into MSM-Master of Screen and Media Production
1e Admission into MMARCH-Master of Maritime Archaeology
1f Admission into GDPAHM-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology and Heritage Management
1g Admission into MAHM-Master of Archaeology and Heritage Management
1h Admission into MSMA-Master of Screen and Media Production [1 year]
1i Admission into MAHMA-Master of Archaeology and Heritage Management [1.5 years]
Must Satisfy: ((1 or 1a or 1b or 1c or 1d or 1e or 1f or 1g or 1h or 1i))

1 of ARCH8512, ARCH8512A has been successfully completed

This topic provides basic training in archaeological research practice, critical thinking and writing skills. It will introduce students to what constitutes the research process in archaeology and how it can be conducted thoroughly and well. The topic explores how archaeological knowledge is constructed, how the research process operates, how to design research, locate and evaluate data sources, undertake preliminary data analysis and communicate the results of research. As part of their assessment, students will devise a research project, undertake database searches, critically evaluate literature, produce a project outline, and evaluate the process and bases of their research.

This topic aims to:

• introduce student to the basics of what constitutes good archaeological research practice

• improve students' existing research skills and their ability to locate and identify sources appropriate to an archaeological study

• improve students' ability critically to evaluate literature and construct, test and defend an argument

• improve students' ability to understand graphically represented data and the range of graphical methods that are appropriate to representing particular kinds of data

On completion of this topic students will be able to:

• undertake independent research

• critically assess literature relating to archaeology

• graphically represent data

• construct, test and defend an argument

• formulate a feasible research question and design a research project to answer it