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GEOG2472: SOCIAL RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Tied
Level 2
Credits 40
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Geography

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 Combinations 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
  • Questionnaires
  • GIS & Spatial Data Analysis
  • Participatory Methods
  • Ethnography
  • Visual Methodologies
  • Textual Analysis
  • Group design and implementation of multi-methodological research project during Easter fieldtrip
  • 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 multiple modes of teaching: lectures, practicals, tutorials, 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
  • The Research Project Proposal will test the ability of each student to design an individual research project

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lecture12Varies1 hour2 
Lecture (Fieldwork)1Once1 hour1Yes
Lecture (Health & Safety)1Varies1 hour1Yes
Lecture (Research Ethics)1Varies1 hour1Yes
Practicals12Varies2 hours24 
Seminars (Field Work Preparation)4Varies1 hour4Yes
Field Work1Easter vacation6 days48Yes
Preparation and Reading319 
Total400 

Summative Assessment

Component: Research project proposalComponent Weighting: 10%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Research project proposal (max 4 pages) 100 
Component: Practical exercise 1Component Weighting: 20%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
practical report 1 - maximum 6 pages or equivalent in mixed media 100 
Component: Practical exercise 2Component Weighting: 20%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
practiccal report 2 - maximum 6 pages or equivalent in mixed media 100 
Component: Fieldwork reportComponent Weighting: 50%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Field work report max 10 pages or equivalent in mixed media 100 

Formative Assessment

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

More information

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