A supervised research dissertation of up to 20,000 words on an approved topic.
ANTH 590 is an individual research project on an approved topic under the supervision
of one or more members of staff, culminating in the submission of a dissertation of
no more than 20,000 words. This dissertation comprises a substantial portion of the
work necessary for completion of the coursework option for the Master of Arts degree.
Choosing
your topic is one of the most challenging and rewarding decisions that you will have
to make during your degree. It will depend on the kind of interests you have developed
in Anthropology, the availability of supervisors with appropriate expertise, and practicability
given the time constraints of the degree. Please review the list of staff members
and areas of interest on the Anthropology website. It is required that you consult
with appropriate staff before enrolment.
In Archaeology it is usually not
possible to undertake primary excavation research for a dissertation unless you have
made prior arrangements with a supervisor. Otherwise, laboratory analyses of previously
excavated assemblages may be undertaken. Equally valid are projects based around the
analysis of primary documentary sources on aspects of past cultures or critical reviews
of literature on aspects of archaeological heritage management and applications of
new technologies to archaeological issues.
In Social Anthropology, potential
topics range from library-based studies based on primary and/or secondary sources
to research involving fieldwork using one or a number of the many different methods
used in field research (for example, participant observation, formal interviews, unobtrusive
methods). This is usually your first opportunity to carry out field research, and
with the supervision that is provided by the Department it will enable you to gain
valuable first-hand experience in doing social research. Fieldwork involving human
subjects requires ethical approval from the University Ethics Committee; your supervisor
will advise you about this.
The dissertation offers comprehensive training
in research skills and methods and requires you to meet professional standards of
argument, documentation and presentation. The successful completion of one of these
projects is regarded as the principal research qualification for further study, and
employers seeking evidence of substantial self-discipline also regard completion of
these projects highly.
| Paper title | Research Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Paper code | ANTH590 |
| Subject | Anthropology |
| EFTS | 0.5000 |
| Points | 60 points 60 points 60 points 60 points |
| Teaching period(s) | 1st Non standard period (23 February 2018 - 21 February 2019), 2nd Non standard period (2 July 2018 - 30 June 2019), 1st Non standard period (23 February 2018 - 21 February 2019), 2nd Non standard period (2 July 2018 - 30 June 2019) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $3,935.50 |
| International Tuition Fees (NZD) | $10,500.00 |
- Limited to
- Limited to: MA
- Learning Outcomes
- Satisfactory completion of this paper will be shown by presentation of a dissertation
that demonstrates that the student is able to:
- Develop an appropriate research problem and plan and conduct an investigation relevant to the discipline of Anthropology.
- Undertake a literature review that places the topic within a wider field of knowledge.
- Critically analyse a body of knowledge relevant to the research problem.
- Select, justify and apply appropriate research method(s) to the research problem.
- Analyse, present, and discuss findings meaningfully.
- Prepare a written report on the project in ways appropriate to the discipline.
- Eligibility
- All students enrolled for the coursework option for the Master of Arts are required to complete the ANTH 590 dissertation. Students who have completed a BA majoring in Anthropology with at least a B+ average can apply to enrol in this degree.
- Contact
- tim.thomas@otago.ac.nz
- Teaching staff
- All academic staff, depending on commitments
- Paper Structure
- Preparation of dissertation
- Teaching Arrangements
- Weekly meetings with supervisor(s)
- Textbooks
- There are no specific textbooks, but reading relevant to the topic is essential.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship,
Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Information literacy,
Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
