Course Details in 2023/24 Session

Module Title	LC Research Methods and GIS
School	School of Geog Earth & Env Sci
Department	Geography
Module Code	03 38119
Module Lead	Phil Jones & Jo Southworth
Level	Certificate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Exclusions
Description	This is a module with two components taught separately but in tandem. 1) Research methods: gives an overview of the basic principles of qualitative social research methods relevant to human geography. These include field and desk-based methods. The module will cover how to choose a research topic, formulating research aims and questions, research design, a range of techniques of data collection and approaches to data analysis. Students will be given practical experience of planning and presenting their own research project. They will reflect critically on the relationship between theory, data, evidence and methods, consider the appropriateness of specific methods for particular research issues, reflect on research ethics, and understand the limitations of each method introduced. The aims of the module are to prepare students for conducting independent research and to develop skills of observation, interpretation and project organisation. 2) GIS: (Geographic Information Systems) are used for spatial data analysis within a wide range of industries; their use is a core skill for geographers, planners and environmental scientists. This module will introduce students to some of the different systems which can be employed and a range of different techniques for spatial data analysis. The emphasis will be on project work, with students learning different techniques in order to employ some of these to answer a research question of their own devising.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Demonstrate a sound understanding of a range of relevant methods and data collection techniques Reflect critically on the potential problems that particular research methods might encounter during the research process Understand the basic principles of spatial analysis Use techniques from a range of different GIS software and apply these techniques to an original research question
Assessment	38119-01 : Academic Poster : Coursework (50%) 38119-02 : 3000 Word Group Report - GIS : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Research Methods Course work: Poster on two methods (50%), GIS 3000-word (plus maps) group project write-up (50%)
Other
Reading List