Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2020-2021 (archived)
Module GEOG2472: SOCIAL RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY
Department: Geography
GEOG2472: SOCIAL RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY
Type | Tied | Level | 2 | Credits | 40 | Availability | Available in 2020/21 | Module Cap | Location | Durham |
---|
Tied to | L702 |
---|---|
Tied to | L703 |
Tied to | L704 |
Tied to | L705 |
Tied to | LA01 |
Tied to | LA02 |
Tied to | LA03 |
Tied to | LMV0 |
Tied to | LMV1 |
Tied to | LMV2 |
Tied to | LMVA |
Tied to | LMVP |
Tied to | CFG0 |
Tied to | FGC0 |
Tied to | CFG1 |
Tied to | CFG2 |
Prerequisites
- GEOG1222 (INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH BA) or GEOG1232 (INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH BSc) or SOCI1321 (INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH); ANTH1101 DOING ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combination of Modules
- GEOG2462 (SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY)
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 will be achieved through group seminars, practicals and field work
- To enable students to acquire direct practical experience in a range of important research methods
- To support students' Research Project Proposals
Content
- Practical exercises on qualitative and quantitative techniques in Human Geography
- Students will choose 3 from a selection of practical exercises
- Possible examples include:
- Interviews
- Questionnaire Design
- GIS & Spatial Data Analysis
- Historical Methods
- Participatory Methods
- Ethnography
- Visual Methodologies
- Textual Analysis
- Group design and implementation of multi-methodological research project during Easter residential/virtual fieldwork
- Formulation of a Research Project Proposal
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
- On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of a range of methods and associated methodological issues within Human Geography
Subject-specific Skills:
- 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
Key Skills:
- 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 five modes of teaching: lectures, seminars, tutorials, practicals and a residential / virtual field work
- 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
- Tutorials with Dissertation Supervisors will aid students in the development of their Research Project Proposal
- The residential / virtual fieldt work will develop students' understanding and experience in the design, implementation and presentation of a 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 Research Project Proposal will test the ability of each student to design an individual research project
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total/Hours | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lectures | 6 | Varies | 1 hour | 6 | |
Lecture (Health & Safety) | 1 | Varies | 1 hour | 1 | ■ |
Lecture (Research Ethics) | 1 | Varies | 1 hour | 1 | ■ |
Tutorials | 6 | Varies | Varies | 3 | |
Seminars (Field Work Preparation) | 4 | Varies | 1 hour | 4 | ■ |
Practicals | 12 | Varies | 2 hours | 24 | |
Field Work | 1 | Easter vacation | 6 days | 48 | ■ |
Preparation and Reading | 313 | ||||
Total | 400 |
Summative Assessment
Component: Research project proposal | Component Weighting: 10% | ||
---|---|---|---|
Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
Research project proposal (max 4 pages) | 100% | ||
Component: Practical exercise 1 | Component Weighting: 20% | ||
Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
practical exercise 1 maximum 6 pages or equivalent in mixed media | 100% | ||
Component: Field work report | Component Weighting: 50% | ||
Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
Field work report max 10 pages or equivalent in mixed media | 100% | ||
Component: Practical exercise 2 | Component Weighting: 20% | ||
Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
practical exercise 2 maximum 6 pages or equivalent in mixed media | 100% |
Formative Assessment:
Practical project Outline research project proposal (2 pages (in Term 2) Formative feedback is also provided on group presentation during residential / virtual field work and 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