Undergraduate Course: Research Design in Geography (GEGR09011)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course introduces students to diverse skills required for undertaking independent research and writing. Particular emphasis is given to providing materials and information that will prepare students for the Geography Dissertation. A variety of skills are introduced including:
Research question formulation
Choice of appropriate methodologies
Critical reviewing of literature
Planning, analysis and write-up of work
Use of Computer-based and IT skills to enable efficient working |
| Course description |
Research Design in Geography is focussed on preparing you to undertake the research and writing of your dissertation. The output of the course is a Research Proposal that will lay out what you intend to research, why and how. The course will introduce students to the multiple approaches to designing a research project, including advice on how to choose methods, literature and theory, as well as general information on health and safety, ethics, and so on.
The course diverges after the second week, and in weeks three, four and five is split into two streams (Human Geography and Physical Geography). Students will be asked to choose a stream.
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | Students MUST also take:
Geography Dissertation (GEGR10053)
|
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- have a better grasp of the basics of research design, and the purpose of doing a dissertation
- understand how to formulate a feasible and interesting research question
- feel more confident choosing the appropriate methodological approach to answer their research question
- have an idea how methods choices can be informed by ongoing theoretical and political debates, and not simply as a resort to what seems easiest or most obvious
- have a better understanding of the function of a literature review, and how research can respond to and integrate a theoretical framework
|
Reading List
| Reading material will be provided throughout the course. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | GEGR09011 |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Thomas Clemens
Tel: (01316) 51 40 16
Email: Tom.Clemens@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Carry Arnold
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: Carry.Arnold@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage