LEVEL 1 GEOG1222 40 CREDITS

INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH (BA)

Dr Monica Stephens (Module Convenor)

Prerequisites: None

Aims
 To introduce students to a variety of methods for research and analysis in human
geography
 To enable students to select appropriate methods for different research contexts
 To enable students to select appropriate methods for the study of diverse geographical
issues
 To develop students’ geographical skills in bibliographic, textual, qualitative and quantitative
research and analysis

Content
 This module is designed to give students a broad introduction to research in Geography in
Term 1. Lectures will focus on the philosophical and practical issues involved in different
research approaches for a range of geographical environments. Students will learn how to
approach a topic and formulate research questions, and will be offered a broad introduction
to qualitative and quantitative research. In the practicals, students will practice this
knowledge as applied to particular research techniques. In Term 2, the module focuses
more specifically on a range of current methods in human geography, offering students
more in depth conceptual and practical learning. The module offers a grounding in human
geography research that will prepare them for more advanced methodological training and
empirical practice later in the degree programme
 Lecture themes (Term 1): Research design, Questionnaires, Quantitative data analysis,
Qualitative methodology, GIS, and Ethics in geographical research Decolonising
methodology.
 Practicals (Term 1): Research design; Use of Excel for data handling and data
presentation, GIS, Qualitative thinking, Introduction to remote sensing and image
processing, ethics in research.
 Lecture themes (Term 2): Decolonising methodology, Ethics in geographical research,
Participant observation, Fieldwork in geography, and Interviewing.
 Practicals (Term 2): Participant observation/Ethnography, Ethics, Interviewing, Archival
research methods, Auto-ethnography, Social media researchCrowdsourcing data, Web-
based mapping, Data analysis, and Data visualisation.
 A review session (Term 2) will also be held.

Learning Outcomes:

Subject-specific Knowledge:

On successful completion of the module students will be able to:

 Understand the linkages between research design, information collection, analysis, display
and interpretation
 Demonstrate understanding of basic statistical terminology
 Demonstrate understanding of appropriate qualitative and quantitative approaches
 Demonstrate an understanding of a range of methods to undertake research and analysis
in human geography
 Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical and conceptual underpinnings of research

Subject-specific Skills:

On successful completion of the module students will be able to:

  Formulate basic research questions and proposals in human geography contexts
 Design simple research projects using a diversity of approaches and techniques
 Demonstrate ability with appropriate software packages to undertake geographical analysis
and research
 Use a range of methods to undertake geographical analysis and research
 Demonstrate basic competence with methods of analysis used in human geography
 Apply basic statistics to geographical data
 Evaluate and reflect upon the ethical and conceptual underpinnings of a research project

Key Skills:
 Basic competence in the use of range of software packages
 Analytical skills
 Ability to analyse data
 Ability to work effectively within a group

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning
outcomes of the module:

 Lectures will provide an introduction and theoretical background to underpin the practical
work.
 Sessions will be supported by additional reading lists, which will enable the student to build
on information provided in the lectures
 Since learning outcomes are focused on skills and methods, practicals will play an
important role in the module by providing active learning environments where the students
are encouraged to engage with the subject matter
 Small group practicals will provide an opportunity for students to engage in and document
peer learning. Students will receive asynchronous feedback on small group tasks
completed during the practicals.
 In order to align the assessment with the learning outcomes which are focussed on skills,
all marks will come from summative assessment

Teaching Methods and Contact Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 Term 1 1 hour 10
Lectures 3 Term 2 1 hour 3
Lecture (fieldtrip 1 Term 2 1 hour 1
Health & Safety
briefing) *
Practicals 8 Term 1 1 hour 8
Practicals 5 Term 2 2 hours 10
Fieldwork * 2 Term 2 8 hours 16
Preparation and 352
Reading
Total 400

* Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend
these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be
subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to
leave the University

Formative Assessment
Duo-based online test
ongoing asynchronous feedback on small group practical tasks
A set of self-paced questions and problems, accompanied with fully developed explanatory
solutions, that will allow students to work through problems of statistics and GIS as Term 1
progresses.

Research Project Proposal (Group)

Summative Assessment
Duo-based online Multiple-choice assessment (25%)
Critical Evaluation of Methods 3 pages A4 (group) (25%)
Field Report Max 5 pages A4 (50%)

Reading List:
Key Reading (indicative)
 Clifford, N., Cope, M., Gillespie, T. and French, S. (eds.) 2016. Key Methods in Geography London:
Sage Publications (3rd edn.).
 Feigenbaum, A. & Alamalhodaei, A. (2020) The Data Storytelling Workbook. Routledge
 Flick, U. (ed.) (2018) The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Data Collection London: Sage.
 Flowerdew, R. and Martin, D. (2005) Methods in Human Geography: a guide for students doing a
research project Pearson Prentice Hall.
 Grekousis, G. (2020) Spatial Analysis Methods and Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
 Hardy, M. and Bryman, B. (2004) Handbook of Data Analysis. London: SAGE.
 Harris, R. (2016) Quantitative Geography: The Basics London: Sage.
 Israel, M. (2015) Research Ethics and Integrity for Social Scientists: beyond regulatory compliance
London: Sage.
 Kitchin, R. and Tate, N.J. (2000) Conducting Research into Human Geography. Harlow: Prentice Hall.
 Phillips, R. and Johns, J. (2012) Fieldwork for Human Geography. London: SAGE
 Tuhiwai Smith, L. (2012) Decolonizing Methodologies: research and indigenous peoples London: Zed
Books
 Yau, N. (2011) Visualize This: The Flowing Data Guide to Design, Visualization, and Statistics. Wiley
& Sons