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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Geography

Undergraduate Course: Qualitative Methods in Geography (GEGR09005)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis course provides an introduction to the use of qualitative methodologies in geography. Course work is designed to give students experience in using the methods to evaluate real world information and thereby gain insights into the characteristics of the techniques and their overall value as a means of study.
Course description This is a core course for 3rd Year students on the Geography Degree Programmes, and the Sustainable Development Degree (Geography pathway).

This course provides an introduction to the use of qualitative methodologies in geography. Course work is designed to give students experience in using the methods to evaluate real world information and thereby gain insights into the characteristics of the techniques and their overall value as a means of study.

Syllabus:
Wks 1, 3 and 4: Interviewing and its analysis
Wk 2: Ethnography: data collection, analysis and relation to theory
Wk 5: Writing up Qualitative Research
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Block 1 (Sem 1)
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 5, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 10, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 81 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) One assessed project undertaken by individual students on data that they have selected or generated. There are two project options: 1. A participant observation study. 2. Analysing an interview

Qualitative Project Work to a total of 2500 words
Feedback Formative verbal feedback will be given during weekly practical classes. Formative verbal and written feedback will be given for the group presentations from the ethnography exercise in Week 5. Feedback will be given on summative assessment at the end of the course and all students will be invited to an examination feedback session following release of course results.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. develop a broad and integrated understanding of qualitative methods, their principles and appropriate application
  2. demonstrate a critical awareness of the values and limitations of the techniques and to have an awareness of the need for careful collection, description and interpretation
  3. gain practical experience of the methods introduced so that students are aware of some of the principal and specialised techniques of data collection methods and analysis used in Geography
  4. use methods studied to collect and analyse real world data and therefore practise at a professional level taking account of research ethics
  5. demonstrate their understanding of one of the methods introduced during the lectures in their assessed project work
Reading List
1. Clifford, N. and Valentine, G. (2010), Key Methods in Geography, London: Sage.
2. DeLyser, D., Herbert, S., Aitken, S. C., Crang, M., & McDowell, L. (2010). The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Geography. Sage Publications Limited.
3. Silverman, D (ed) (2012 and other editions) Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice, Third Edition, London: Sage.
4. Silverman, D (2011 and other editions) Interpreting Qualitative Data: 4th Edition, London: Sage
5. Silverman, D (2007 and other editions), Very short, fairly interesting and reasonably cheap book about qualitative research, London: Sage.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Students will be able to demonstrate skills in the collection, description and interpretation of qualitative data using real world examples and working at a professional level.
Students will also be able to demonstrate an ability to acquire and apply specialist knowledge.
Finally, students will be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
KeywordsGEGR09005,qualitative methods,data collection,ethics
Contacts
Course organiserDr Eric Laurier
Tel: (0131 6)51 4303
Email: Eric.Laurier@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Sarah Mcallister
Tel: (0131 6)50 4917
Email: Sarah.McAllister@ed.ac.uk
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