ARCH 3000/ARCH 6000

RESEARCH DESIGN IN ARCHAEOLOGY

INTRODUCTION

Syllabus: This course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to the principles by which archaeological projects are devised and executed. It will deal with the issues of finding a topic to research, defining its scope and limitations, developing a research bibliography and data inventory, devising a methodology by which the topic becomes a research question, and elaborating a research design.

Prerequisite: Archaeology: an introduction (ARCH1111) and/or From Origins to Civilisations (ARCH1112) and 18 units of ARCH or PREH courses at later- year level, or permission of the Convener.

COURSE STRUCTURE

The course will consist of seven two-hour seminars in which you will discuss approaches to designing and carrying out research and then construct and present a research proposal of your own making. This is an advanced course, preparing you for independent research, and you will be involved in actively creating knowledge about the subject rather than passively receiving it. Consequently the lecturing component in minimal and teaching will be carried out through these seminars.

ASSESSMENT: The assessment will be a 3,000 word research proposal.

DUE DATE OF RESEARCH REPORT:  6 November, 2002.

SEMINAR CALENDAR

Week 1.     24 July

The nature of research and a consideration and a discussion of the research process.

The nature and scope of the Honours and Coursework Master’s dissertation – field, laboratory and/or library based. The research question and the development of a research proposal. Big questions and minor questions – problem solving in archaeology – in field, laboratory and/or library. Quantification and presentation of results.

Week 2.    31 July

The theory of research; arguments, analogy, creating and evaluating theories, decomposition and the research process

Ideas for structuring the creative research process, and for developing critical thinking in research.

Week 3     7 August

Proposal Preparation. The role of the literature in defining a question. Surveying the literature. 

Each student is to talk for 5 minutes outlining the area in which they wish to develop their topic for research and where and how they think they are going to pursue information.

Weeks 5-9   12 August-18 September

For private study and the development of the research proposal. Staff will be available for consultation during class times on Wednesday afternoons or at other times by appointment.

Week 10       9 October

Discussion of key issues

A problem solving seminars to explore sticking points in the design process.

Week 11     16 October

Research presentations

A 20 minute Presentation by each student of their research proposal, each followed by a discussion

Week 12      23 October

Research presentations

A 20 minute Presentation by each student of their research proposal, each followed by a discussion

Week 13      30 October

Research presentations

A 20 minute Presentation by each student of their research proposal, each followed by a discussion

READING MATERIAL

Recommended Reading

There are a number of publications that we suggest to you because of the clarity with which their research design is laid out. Please read the following:

Binford, L.R. 2002. In Pursuit of the Past, University of California Press.

Binford, L.R.. 1964 A consideration of Archaeological research design. American Antiquity 29:425-441.

Peregrine, P.N. 2000 Archaeological research: a brief introduction.

Redman, C.L. 1987 Surface collection, sampling, and research design: a retrospective. American Antiquity 52:249-265.

Four dissertations:

In addition please read the honours theses by the following people: Sophie Collins, Oliver Macgregor, Nicola Stern, Rebecca Parkes. They are available from Marian at the School Office. Yes, we do expect you to read them all, within the first few weeks. These are good quality theses that will give you a feel for the level required at honours research. Furthermore, examine these theses for how they dissect the literature, frame their questions, design and present their research.

Other literature:

Students are also encouraged to examine the research process via a critical analysis of articles published in any of the following journals which are most relevant to your proposal: Antiquity, American Antiquity, Cambridge Archaeological Journal, Archaeometry, Journal of Archaeological Science, Norwegian Archaeological Review, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, Archaeology in Oceania, South African Archaeological Bulletin, Latin American Archaeology, Oxford Journal of Archaeology and so on.