GEOG2462: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY

• GEOG1232 (INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH BSc) or GEOG1222 (INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH BA)

• None

• GEOG2472 (SOCIAL RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY)

• To provide a historical perspective on the development of geography as a discipline and philosophical reflection on the nature of physical geography
• To enable students to learn the principles and practice of: good research design; rigorous data construction and interpretation; the presentation of research findings; and the appraisal and evaluation of research. This will be achieved through group work associated with virtual fieldwork and through practical projects
• To enable students to acquire and understanding and experience of a range of important research methods
• To support students' Research Project Proposals

• Lectures will cover historical and philosophical reflections on the nature of physical geography, key approaches to physical geography research including quantitative methods and research design
• Linked practical exercise on data analysis
• Practical exercises on advanced techniques in physical geography. Students will choose 2 from a selection of project exercises. Possible examples include:
• 1. Environmental reconstruction using micropalaeontological and / or sedimentological techniques
• 2. Evaluating and / or predicting sea-level rise/flooding and their potential impacts
• 3. Water quality analysis
• 4. Measuring recent glacier change/tropical deforestation using remote sensing data
• Group project design, implementation and presentation based on virtual fieldtrip
• Formulation of Research Project Proposal

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
• demonstrate a critical awareness of the nature and development of physical geography as a discipline, and a basic understanding of the relationship between various approaches to the discipline

Subject-specific Skills:

• On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
• design original investigations in physical geography
• work individually and within a group to collate data relevant to testing an hypothesis
• collect, analyse and present data from original and secondary sources
• plan a substantial piece of independent geographical research on an approved topic

Key Skills:

• Data collation and analysis
• Project design and implementation
• Group work and presentation skills (fieldtrip presentation)

• Lectures will be used to impart basic facts and information necessary to fulfil the aims of this course
• Understanding of the nature and development of physical geography as a discipline will be tested by the research project proposal and fieldtrip report
• Concepts introduced in lectures will be explored in more depth in workshops, practicals and tutorials
• Practicals will provide students with experience and understanding of research design and technical expertise in a range of research methods applicable to independent research and will be assessed by the practical reports
• Tutorials will aid students in the development of their Research Project Proposal
• Workshops and virtual fieldwork will provide experience of independent research design
• Students will develop their individual and group working skills through practicals and virtual fieldtrip projects, which will also provide training and experience in project design implementation and presentation
• Students' ability to work in a group, designing, completing and presenting the results of a research project (including a critical understanding of the research methodology employed, project formulation, data analysis and interpretation) will be tested by the virtual field trip report
• The research project proposal will test the ability of each student to design an individual research project
• Formative assessment consists of a data analysis exercise in Term 1 which tests key skills in data handling and analysis; an outline research project proposal in Term 2 designed to assess research planning and problem formulation; and a fieldtrip notebook during the residential fieldtrip to develop skills in data collection techniques and careful and critical note taking.
• The summative assessment consists of four key elements (research project proposal, two practical exercises, fieldtrip presentation, and fieldtrip report) which respectively assess the key learning outcomes: research design and hypothesis testing; analyse and present data from original and secondary sources; group work and presentation skills; and data analysis and critical interpretation.

Data analysis exercise (Term 1).Outline research project proposal (2 pages) (Term 2).Fieldtrip notebook receive feedback during residential fieldtrip.

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