Postgraduate Course: Methodological Debates in Human Geography (PRGE11001)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | 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. |
| Course description |
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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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 |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| 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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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
One written assessment of 3,000 words due week 11 |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
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
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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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Additional Information
| Course URL |
http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/masters/hg-res_info/ |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional 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).
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| 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 | Mrs Karolina Galera
Tel: (0131 6)50 2572
Email: k.galera@ed.ac.uk |
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