7SSG5150 Advanced Methods in Preparation for PhD Research in Human Geography
Coordinator: Professor Tim Butler
Lecturers: various
Teaching arrangement: tutorials
Assessment: Three 1,500 word essays based on practical work (equally weighted)
Specific aims of the module
The aim of the module is to enable students to:
• develop an in-depth understanding of three research methodologies from a structured menu of qualitative and quantitative techniques and research management methodologies;
• prepare students to apply their chosen techniques in a research context such as their master’s dissertation;
• enable students to understand how different techniques can be deployed in a multi-methods approach to research;
• meet the requirements of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for recognition as research training and specifically how to write a proposal for a postgraduate research studentship.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will have displayed:
• an appreciation in depth of three research methodologies;
• the ability to apply this knowledge in a research context through undertaking small scale exercises;
• the ability to write a research outline or proposal for research funding which uses a range of techniques available to social scientists;
• an appreciation, through experience in their use, of the contribution of a range of social science research techniques to social science research;
• the knowledge and self confidence to write research proposals for postgraduate research studentships.
Structure
The module is delivered in part through three short courses of equal length and weighting which are chosen with the advice of the module organiser from a list that is structured to ensure an adequate breadth of coverage of key areas of research methodology.
Basic references
Baxter, J. & J. Eyles (1997) Evaluating qualitative research in social geography: Establishing 'rigour' in interview analysis. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 22(4), 505-525
Cloke, P et al (2004) Practising Human Geography. Sage, London. Foddy, W (1993) Constructing Questions for Interviews and Questionnaires, Cambridge UP, Cambridge
Hakim, C (1982) Secondary Analysis in Social Research, Allen & Unwin, London
Harris, R. et al. (2005). Geodemographics, GIS and neighbourhood targeting, Wiley, London
Hoggart, K, LC Lees & AR Davies (2002) Researching Human Geography, Arnold, London
Morgan, DL (1997) Focus Groups as Qualitative Research, 2nd edition, Sage, London
Moser, CA & G Kalton (1971) Survey Methods in Social Investigation, Heinemann, London
Plummer, K (2000) Documents of Life 2, Sage, London
Scott, J (1990) A Matter of Record, Polity, Cambridge Special Issue of Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography 24(2) on fieldwork and participation
Vaus, DA de (1995) Surveys in Social Research, 4th edition, Allen & Unwin, London
Ward, K. & M Jones (1999) Researching local elites: Reflexivity, 'situatedness', and political-temporal contingency. Geoforum 30, 301-312
Webber, R. (2004). Designing Geodemographic Classifications to meet Contemporary Business Needs Journal of Interactive Marketing 5(3)