GEOG41515: RESEARCH METHODS FOR GLOBAL CHALLENGES

• None

• None

• None

• The module will provide applied training with the aim of developing a range of transferable methods relevant to professional and personal development. The emphasis will be on (a) enhancing students existing research skills: (b) exploring issues involved in the design and conduct of research; and (c) providing hands-on experience working with a variety of data sources and methods pertaining to global challenges.

• Principles of good research design and practice, including the formulation of researchable questions and implementation of appropriate and complementary research methods
• Reflection on the role of the researcher in the context of different methods and approaches to knowledge production
• The ethics and politics of doing research in the context of contemporary global challenges and debates about research and its uses
• Introduction to a selection of research methods, such as interviews, surveys, ethnography, participatory research, thematic mapping, spatial analysis, critical data storytelling, and/or collaborative mapping that will enhance research skills while exploring the applicability of these techniques to emerging social science issues.
• Development and implementation of methods related to researching global challenges that includes practicing various methods, managing and making sense of data, analysing, and incorporating appropriate research design in a research proposal.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• At the end of this module, students will be able to:
• Discuss key areas of debate around the production and use of data to analyse global challenges;
• Assess the range of issues including the ethics and politics involved in the conduct and use of good geographical research.

Subject-specific Skills:

• At the end of this module, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate practical methods skills, which may include a selection of the following: interviews, questionnaires, surveys, ethnography, participatory research, thematic mapping, spatial analysis, critical data storytelling, and/or collaborative mapping; and
• Select appropriate methods and techniques and design research examining global challenges.

Key Skills:

• At the end of this module students will be able to:
• Reflect on the use and suitability of research methods for undertaking independent research projects;
• Evaluate and reflect upon the ethics and politics of specific research methods, their implementation, and role in knowledge production;
• Develop and implement appropriate methods related to Human Geography research specific to student interests;
• Synthesize and communicate preliminary research design in a research proposal

• Lectures provide background information and theoretical framing research methods introduced in the recommended reading.
• Practicals provide hands-on methods experience collecting and analysing primary and secondary data related to a geographic question or problem. Practicals will be guided by a small lecture, demonstration, activity, and/or set of instructions provided by the teaching staff.
• Tutorials provide support for the summative proposal from teaching staff in Term 2.

Students will receive formative feedback from both staff and peers throughout the module during lecture, practicals, tutorials, and/or individually.

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our Help page. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the Help page, or a query about the on-line Postgraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.