Module ANTH2297: Mind and Culture

Department: Anthropology

ANTH2297: Mind and Culture

Prerequisites

• Human Evolution and Diversity (ANTH1091) OR Organisms and Environment (BIOL1161) OR Introduction to Psychology 1 (PSYC1071) OR Introduction to Psychology 2 (PSYC1081) AND Doing Anthropological Research (ANTH1101) or equivalent

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To develop awareness and understanding of evolutionary biology as applied to the evolution of cognition and culture.
• To introduce concepts and methods in studying behaviour and cognition, with a focus on experimental design.
• To extend students’ understanding of humans as primates.
• To provide an understanding of primate cognition and the evolution of human cognition and behaviour.
• To prepare students for Level 3 modules requiring an evolutionary perspective and provide skills of particular importance for the dissertation.  

Content

• Comparative study of cognition and culture in humans and other primates.
• Current theories on the evolution of human cognition and culture, including language, cooperation, and cumulative culture.
• Approaches to studying human behaviour, including cultural evolution, evolutionary psychology and human behavioural ecology.
• The scientific method of developing and testing hypotheses.
• Designing behavioural experiments for studying cognition and culture.
• Writing research proposals in evolutionary anthropology.

Learning Outcomes

• Familiarity with comparative and experimental methods in the study of behaviour, cognition, and culture.
• Critical understanding of theories used to understand the evolution of cognition and cultural behaviour in humans.

• Familiarity with key methods and concepts in the study of behaviour, cognition, and culture.
• Ability to critically analyse and evaluate written scientific information.
• Ability to design scientific studies, collect and interpret behavioural data.
• The ability to evaluate anthropological arguments and evidence.

• Search information sources effectively (e.g. libraries, archives) and find information.
• Use academic literature effectively.
• Integrating and evaluating a range of information and data from primary and secondary sources.
• Applying the scientific method of enquiry to identify and examine research questions.
• Designing behavioural experiments to collect, analyze and interpret quantitative data.
• Writing effective and coherent research proposals. 

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures cover subject-specific knowledge.
• Practicals, seminars, and writing surgeries further develop subject-specific knowledge and key skills.
• Lectures, practicals, seminars, and writing surgeries may consist of pre-recorded videos, live presentations, break-out discussions or other activities as appropriate to the material covered from week to week.
• Coursework assesses subject-specific knowledge and key skills.
• Summative assessment comprises a research proposal.
• Formative assessment consists of extensive oral feedback in practical classes, seminars, and writing surgeries.
• The module will have a dedicated Learn Ultra site on which course information and materials will be regularly posted. 

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Extensive oral and written feedback in practical classes, seminars, and one to one writing surgeries, example research proposals, practical guidance on Ultra.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University