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Trends and developments in physical anthropology, 1978-1979
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|September 1, 1979
Summary
Physical anthropology graduate training is often seen as deficient in core sciences like statistics and genetics. The field faces an imbalance between new Ph.D.s and job prospects, impacting career opportunities.
Area of Science:
- Physical Anthropology
- Human Evolution Studies
Background:
- The American Association of Physical Anthropologists surveyed members regarding graduate training and current programs.
- The study aimed to create a training directory and analyze the discipline's status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess perceived deficiencies in graduate training within physical anthropology.
- To identify key areas for future research and analyze employment trends.
Main Methods:
- Survey of members of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.
- Data collection on graduate training and current programs.
- Analysis of discipline growth and employment opportunities.
Main Results:
- A majority of respondents reported deficiencies in graduate training, particularly in statistics, genetics, chemistry, physiology, and mathematics.
- Genetics, anatomy, ecology, physiology, and paleontology are identified as crucial for future research.
- A significant imbalance exists between the number of new Ph.D.s and available employment opportunities in the field.
Conclusions:
- Graduate programs in physical anthropology require enhancement in foundational scientific areas.
- Future research directions should focus on genetics, anatomy, ecology, physiology, and paleontology.
- The field must address the oversupply of Ph.D.s relative to employment opportunities to ensure career viability.