Module GEOG1222: INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL METHODS

Department: Geography

GEOG1222: INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL METHODS

Tied To

• CFG0: Natural Sciences
• F800: Geography
• FR89: Geography (European Studies) (see Undergraduate Handbook 2009-2010 for details)
• L702: Geography
• LMV0: Combined Honours in Social Sciences
• LR79: Geography (European Studies) (see Undergraduate Handbook 2009-2010 for details)
• X1F8: Education Studies - Geography

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To introduce students to a variety of methods in geographical study, analysis and research
• To introduce students to a variety of geographical environments
• To enable students to select appropriate methods to study diverse geographical issues
• To develop student's geographical skills of numeracy, data management, manipulation, analysis, display, interpretation and explanation

Content

• Lecture themes:
• Research Design
• Tools and Data collection
• Quantitative and Qualitative Data analysis, and
• GIS
• Practicals:
• Formulating research questions and problem solving
• Use of Excel for data handling and data presentation
• Formulating interviews and questionnaires
• Application of statistical techniques I
• Application of GIS in human and physical Geography
• Introduction to remote sensing and image processing, and
• Application of statistical techniques II
• Fieldwork:
• The Fluvial Environment
• The Coastal / Glacial Environment, and
• The Urban Environment

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
• understand the linkages between project design, information collection, analysis, display and interpretation
• demonstrate understanding of basic statistical terminology
• demonstrate understanding of appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods
• demonstrate an understanding of a range of methods to undertake geographical analysis and research
• demonstrate an understanding of sediment types and landform types

• On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
• design simple research projects using a diversity of approaches and techniques
• demonstrate ability to select appropriate software packages to undertake geographical analysis and research
• design a range of methods to undertake geographical analysis and research
• demonstrate basic competence with analytical methods used in human geography such as textual analysis and ethnography
• formulate basic research questions and proposals in both human and physical geography contexts
• apply basic statistics to geographical data
• use key software programmes with a basic level of competence, such as Excel, ArcGIS and Erdas Imagine

• Basic competence in the use of range of software packages
• Analytical skills
• Designing quesionnaires
• Formulate and structure interviews
• Ability to describe, analyse, interpret and synthesise data
• Ability to present findings using oral, written and electronic media
• Ability to work effectively within a group

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

• Lectures will provide an introduction and theoretical background to underpin the fieldwork and practical work. These will be supported by additional reading lists, which will enable the student to build on information provided in the lectures
• Since learning outcomes are focussed on skills and methods, practicals and fieldwork will play an important role in the module by providing active learning environments where the students are encouraged to engage with the subject matter. In line with faculty policy on e-learning, the module will make strong use of innovative duo based e-assessment methods
• Formative assessment will allow the students to receive feedback on skills that will be the focus of summative assessment. This summative work will allow students to demonstrate their ability to describe, analyse, interpret and synthesise data, and present it using oral, written and electronic media
• Fieldwork will enable the student to gain 'hands on' experience of examining, describing and collecting data using a range of techniques and methods spanning both human and physical geography in a range of environments. The module has no essay based examination. In order to align the assessment with the learning outcomes which are focussed on skills, all marks will come from summative assessment

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

8 formative assessments preceeding summative assignments 8 formative assessments preceding summative assignments: 1. 5x e-assessment of numerical techniques and data analysis. Individual work. No collection required 2. Wiki-based e-assessment of field data collection and compilation. Group work. No collection required 3. Research proposal outline. Group work. Collection required 4. Qualitative analysis. Group work. Collection required