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). The supervision that is provided by the Department
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 |
| Teaching period(s) | 1st Non standard period (25 February 2019 - 21 February 2020), 2nd Non standard period (1 July 2019 - 26 June 2020) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $4,014.00 |
| International Tuition Fees (NZD) | $10,500.00 |
- Limited to
- Limited to: MA
- 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. - 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.
