Module GEOG2472: SOCIAL RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY (40 CREDITS)

Department: GEOGRAPHY

GEOG2472: SOCIAL RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY (40 CREDITS)

Prerequisites

• Information Technology and Skills for Geography (GEOG1201).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• GEOG2462.

Aims

• To enable students to learn the principles, practices and conceptual issues involved in: good research design.
• rigorous data collection, construction and interpretation.
• the presentation of research findings.
• and the appraisal and critical evaluation of research.
• This will be achieved through group seminars, practical and field work.
• To enable students to acquire direct practical experience in a range of important research methods.
• To support student's dissertation preparation.

Content

• Lectures introducing the epistemological and ontological issues bound up with the use of qualitative methods combined with reading led discussion seminars.
• Practical exercises on qualitative techniques in human geography.
• Students will choose 3 from a selection of practical exercises based on staff expertise.
• Possible examples include: Interviews and Focus Groups.
• Advanced Questionnaires and Surveys.
• Archival and Documentary Research.
• Performative Research.
• Ethnography.
• Action Research.
• Textual Analysis.
• Group design and implementation of multi-methodological research project on Easter residential fieldtrip.
• Formulation of dissertation within Dissertation Advisory Groups.

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of this module students will be able to: Describe the conceptual and practical issues involved in the collection, analysis and presentation of data within a human geography research project.
• Work within a group to collect, construct and interpret data relevant to posed research questions in a coherent and conceptually informed manner.
• Plan a substantial piece of independent human geography research on an approved topic.

• group work as above
• data collection and analysis as above
• project design and implementation as above

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

• Social Research in Geography uses four modes of teaching.
• lectures, seminars, practicals and a residential fieldtrip.
• Lectures will be used to introduce conceptual issues in social research that will be explored in more depth in seminars.
• Practicals will extend this conceptual understanding and provide students with direct experience of research design and practice in a range of methods applicable to group and independent research.
• The residential fieldtrip will develop students understanding and experience in the design, implementation and presentation of a group research project.
• Students understanding and knowledge of a range of research methods will be assessed by three practical project exercises.
• Students ability to design and conduct a conceptually informed and integrated research project will be assessed by the multi-methodological residential fieldwork project.
• The dissertation advisory group (DAG/Tutorial) report will test the ability of the student to design an individual research project.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Practical projects. Formative feedback is also provided on all summative coursework.

■ 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