ANTHRO 747 : Special Topic

Arts

2022 Semester One (1223) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

No prescription

Course Overview

The special topic for Anthro 747 in Semester 1 2022 is Doing Biocultural Research. 

This course covers key aspects of biocultural research, including: ethics, interpretation and analysis of data, and dissemination of research results to peers, stakeholders, participants, and publics. Students will propose a research project involving human participants and draft an institutional ethics board application. Students will also practice skills in reporting research results in various formats.

The first component of this course focuses on ethical research methods, from study design and consultation to dissemination of findings. We will examine various ethical dimensions of biocultural research and the relevant guidelines, codes of ethics, and laws that apply to such research. The second, related component focuses on interpretation and analysis of biocultural data, including quantitative and mixed quantitative/qualitative data, statistical analysis and hypothesis testing, and communication of research results in various formats.

Students are encouraged to tailor their assignments to their own particular research interests and data sources (living people, human remains, archival data, et cetera), while considering the range of research conducted in biological anthropology and related fields and the importance of understanding and engaging with data and methods beyond their own particular specialisations.

This is an important course in preparing students for ethical practice in the discipline generally, as well as practical preparation for the institutional ethics review process when undertaking a research project involving human participants and their data. These early stages of the research process turn ideas into viable projects.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Master of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate ability to think through and plan for the ethical dimensions of the methods for a specific project, in accordance with relevant laws, codes, and guidelines. (Capability 3.1, 5.1 and 6.1)
  2. Demonstrate effective research and analytical skills including the ability to identify relevant research studies and critically analyse ethical aspects of published work. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
  3. Demonstrate ability to perform basic statistical analyses and report results in a prescribed format. (Capability 3.1, 4.1 and 4.2)
  4. Demonstrate ability to appropriately use graphs and tables to present research results. (Capability 4.2)
  5. Give and respond to constructive comments on both written and oral work, through oral participation and feedback in the class and responding to comments in written work. (Capability 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 5.2)
  6. Effectively work in a small group, presenting ideas and thoughtfully responding to ideas presented by others in focused discussions. (Capability 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Participation, including peer feedback 10% Individual Coursework
Ethics Literature Review 25% Individual Coursework
Ethics Application 30% Individual Coursework
Statistical Exrercise 5% Individual Coursework
Data Analysis Assignment 20% Individual Coursework
Presentation 10% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect, per week, 2 hours of seminar,  4 hours of reading and thinking about the content and  4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at weekly class meetings to receive credit for components of the course, particularly for the participation component. 

This is a seminar course, meaning active participation is expected; there are no lectures. Class meetings (seminars) will  not be available as recordings.

The course will not include live online events including group discussions, except in cases where online class meetings (seminars) must replace in-person meetings due to NZ government COVID restrictions.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

This course is not available for delivery to students studying remotely outside NZ in 2022.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Required readings including journal articles and ethics documents will be found via the course Talis reading list. 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 27/10/2021 03:47 p.m.