Postgraduate Course: Methodological Debates in Human Geography (PRGE11001)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Postgrad Research Courses (School of GeoSciences) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/masters/hg-res_info/ |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course provides students with knowledge of advanced methodological debates in Human Geography and related social sciences. The course uses directed readings and seminar discussions to explore the place of method and theory in constructing distinctive geographical and spatial knowledges. The course also examines the relationship between academically-formed geographical and social science methodologies and other epistemic and methodic practices. The subject matter is designed to be responsive to the specific research interests of students and requires students to read in a specialist area relevant to the methodologies of their proposed research (as such the annual content changes according the members of the class). As part of this course students are expected to attend the Human Geography Seminar Series. Occasionally the class will be used as preparation for those seminars, offering you the opportunity to read and discuss the work of an invited speaker. A number of the speaker themselves are usually willing to lead the seminar as a Master Class in their methodologies. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | N/A |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
|
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Class Delivery Information |
The format for teaching is seminar discussion around set readings, guided by academic members of staff (either the course staff or through Master Classes with visiting academics).
|
| Course Start Date |
13/01/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Placement Study Abroad Hours 11,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
163 )
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| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
- Knowledge of current methodological debates in, and to, the field of Human Geography and related social sciences
- Appreciation of the varied cultures and histories of geographical and social knowledge formation and their relevance to contemporary methodological debates
- Ability to synthesise and critically analyse a range of debates on methods and methodology, in written and verbal form
- Understanding of the relationship between methodology, methods and theory
- Ability to develop, report and plan research practice, informed by reading in a specialist area
- Skills in preparation and presentation of a conference paper |
Assessment Information
| One written assessment of 3,000 words due week 11 |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
The syllabus is adaptive and configured in relation to the class students' planned methodologies for the MSc or PhD research. We have a 'bank' of past topics and readings that students have found useful and we often return to this. However, we are also happy to accommodate new themes and topics that a class member feels is relevant to their research.
Week 1 19th Jan: Theory and method
Week 2 26th Jan: Eric Laurier presents first reading: Mike Lynch's 'Pictures of Nothing'
Week 3 2nd Feb: Hannah Macpherson
Week 4 9th Feb: Student-selected readings
Week 5 16th Feb: Student-selected readings
Week 6 23rd Feb: ILW - Student-selected film with discussion to follow
Week 7 1st Mar: Student-selected readings
Week 8 8th Mar: David Pinder
Week 9 15th Mar Student-selected readings
Week 10 22nd Mar Student-selected readings
Week 11 29th Mar Student presentations
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Clifford, N. and Valentine, G. (eds), 2003 & 2010, Key Methods in Geography,
London: Sage.
Silverman, David (ed.) 2010, Qualitative Research (3rd Edition), London: Sage.
Silverman, David 2007, A Very Short, Fairly Interesting and Reasonably Cheap Book About Qualitative Research, London: Sage.
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| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | PRGE11001, Debates, methodology, research techniques, society, human geography |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Eric Laurier
Tel: (0131 6)51 4303
Email: Eric.Laurier@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Lynne Mcgillivray
Tel: (0131 6)50 2543
Email: Lynne.McGillivray@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2013 The University of Edinburgh - 13 January 2014 5:01 am
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