Spring 2021 - ARCH 376 D100

Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (4)

Class Number: 4729

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 11 – Apr 16, 2021: TBA, TBA
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    ARCH 101 or ARCH 201, and any one of ARCH 285, GEOG 251, PSYC 210, STAT 101, STAT 201, STAT 203, or STAT 205.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Theory, method, and operation of the application of statistical techniques to the description, classification, analysis, and interpretation of archaeological data. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course provides an overview of how quantitative methods can be used to describe, quantify, analyse, and interpret archaeological data. The main objective of this course is to provide students with the background necessary to critically assess the use of quantitative methods in archaeology, design research projects, and perform basic quantitative analysis on archaeological datasets. Weekly labs will focus on exploring how computer software can be used to manage archaeological data and conduct various quantitative methods. Major topics covered in this course will include: the nature of archaeological data, sampling, data visualization, descriptive statistics, statistical inference and hypothesis testing, comparing the means and proportions of different samples, correlation and regression, as well as principal component, cluster, and diversity analyses.

Grading

  • Problem Set 1 25%
  • Problem Set 2 25%
  • Problem Set 3 25%
  • Weekly Quizlets 15%
  • Article Presentation 10%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Drennan, Robert D. 2009. Statistics for Archaeologists: A Common-sense Approach. 2nd edition. Springer, New York.

An ebook of the text is available for free through the SFU Library. Additional journal articles and book chapters will be posted on Canvas.
ISBN: 9781441960719

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Students with Disabilities (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

Deferred grades will be given only on the basis of authenticated medical disability.


Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2021

Teaching at SFU in spring 2021 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).