GEOG2472: SOCIAL RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY

• GEOG1222 (INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH BA) or GEOG1232 (INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH BSc) or SOCI1321 (INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH); ANTH1101 DOING ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH

• None

• GEOG2462 (SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY)

• 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

• Practical exercises on qualitative and quantitative techniques in Human Geography
• Students will choose 3 from a selection of practical exercises
• Possible examples include:
• Interviews
• Questionnaires
• GIS & Spatial Data Analysis
• Participatory Methods
• Ethnography
• Visual Methodologies
• Textual Analysis
• Group design and implementation of multi-methodological research project during Easter fieldtrip

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 human geography research on an approved topic

Key Skills:

• Data collection and analysis as above
• Project design and implementation as above

• Social Research in Geography uses multiple modes of teaching: lectures, practicals and fieldwork
• 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
• Fieldwork 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

Formative feedback is provided during practical sessions, pre-fieldwork seminars, on group presentation during residential fieldtrip and on all summative coursework.

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