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Bioarchaeology Dissertation

Module description

The dissertation is a self-contained study based on your own research, counting for 60 credits. You will undertake research that has archaeological applications and present the results at greater length than you have had opportunity to in other parts of your course. You will need to work out a topic to study, in conjunction with your programme director, and to establish how you will set about answering the research question(s) posed. The choice of topic is your own; it is important to choose something that offers good possibilities for developing an independent piece of work. You will learn how to collect and collate data from a range of sources, to analyse and present information, to develop skills relating to illustration, and to create hypotheses about the data based on your analysis. The completed work should be a well-written study of the topic under discussion, with illustrations of high quality and a fully developed bibliography.

This module is a core requirement of the MSc in Bioarchaeology.

Module aims - intentions of the module

To pursue an individual programme of research, applying appropriate principles and methods to the study of a topic relating to Bioarchaeology that has been approved by the module convenor.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate a systematic and comprehensive understanding of techniques or methods of Bioarchaeology appropriate to the particular research topic
• 2. Demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with an understanding of the wider research context of the dissertation topic
• 3. Demonstrate self-direction in the collating of information from disparate archaeological sources
• 4. Demonstrate a practical understanding of established techniques and archaeological methods
• 5. Analyse and integrate data, and, where appropriate, propose new hypotheses and conclusions.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Assimilate and critically analyse published/unpublished and/or field/laboratory data.
• 7. Present a clearly structured, well-written and appropriately illustrated dissertation

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. Research a topic as an independent individual
• 9. Develop time management skills and adhere to deadlines

Syllabus plan

Spring term: One seminar discussion session introducing the requirements and scope of the dissertation, and one tutorial discussion session discussing an outline proposal.

Summer Term and Vacation Period: Three tutorials giving specific advice on the research topic and monitoring process, either in person or remotely using an online platform or via e-mail. 

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Baxter, L., Hughes, C., and Tight, M., 1996. How to research. 4th Edition. Buckingham: Open University Press. *Available online.
• Bell, J., 2014. Doing Your Research Project: a Guide For First-Time Researchers. 6th Edition. Buckingham: Open University Press. *Available online.
• Creswell, J.W., 2014. Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. 4th Edition. London: Sage. *Call No. 300.72CRE.
• Flick, U., 2014. An introduction to qualitative research. 5th Edition. London: Sage. *Call No. 001.42FLI.
• O'Connor, M., and Woodford, F.P., 1975. Writing scientific papers in English. Oxford: Association of Scientific Publishers. *Call No. 501.49OCO.
• Rudestam, K.E., and Newton, R.R., 2015. Surviving your dissertation: a comprehensive guide to content and process. 4th Edition. London: Sage. *Call No. 378.2RUD.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE - https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11481

Key words search

Archaeology, Bioarchaeology, Research, Dissertation