Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Workshop | 4 x 2 Hour Workshops |
| Lecture | 10 x 1 Hour Lectures |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Written Research Portfolio Part 1 (1000 words plus supporting material) | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Written Research Portfolio Part 2 (1000 words plus supporting material) | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Written Research Portfolio Part 1 (1000 words plus supporting material) | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Written Research Portfolio Part 2 (1000 words plus supporting material) | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Outline the differing approaches to human geography and associated social science research and identify the relevant types of methods associated with these approaches;
2. Formulate workable research questions, aims and objectives;
3. Select appropriate methods that are justified and relevant in relation to research questions, aims and objectives;
4. Evaluate the advantages and limitations of a range of qualitative techniques in particular research settings;
5. Critically assess the pragmatics of applying particular techniques in practice.
Brief description
The course involves lectures [and practical workshops] covering a variety of methodological skills and techniques required in human geography and associated social science research. It includes an introduction to research frameworks and research design and hands-on training in questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, ethnography, textual and visual analysis, and research using historical archives. It also addresses themes of research ethics, research impact, participatory and social action research
Content
The course involves lectures covering a variety of approaches: introduction to research frameworks, interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, ethnography, textual research, use of archives, videographic techniques, and new ‘creative’ methods.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | n/a |
| Communication | Students will use written and graphic modes to analyses and present data |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Gained via independent reading and through engagement with the reflexive component of the assessment |
| Information Technology | Students will demonstrate their competency with using Blackboard and the e-resources available in that information environment |
| Personal Development and Career planning | The skills developed through this module can provide the foundation for higher-level studies and also are transferable to many applied, non-academic contexts. Students will be made aware of the relevance for further study and employability throughout the module, including as part of the assessment |
| Problem solving | Demonstrated via choosing of relevant conceptual frameworks and associated techniques for particular research contexts |
| Research skills | Reading, thinking and writing skills will be demonstrated through in-class discussions and the assessment |
| Subject Specific Skills | The acquisition, analysis and presentation of geographic data |
| Team work | Team work and discussion will be involved in some lectures and the practicals |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5