GEOG1232: INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH (BSc)

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• To introduce students to a variety of core methods for research and analysis in physical geography
• To expose students to research in a variety of geographical environments
• To enable students to critically select appropriate methods to study diverse geographical issues
• To develop students geographical skills of numeracy, data management, analysis, presentation, interpretation and explanation

• This module is designed to give students a broad introduction to research in Geography in Term 1. Lectures will focus on the philosophical and practical issues involved in different research approaches for a range of geographical environments. Students will learn how to approach a topic and formulate research questions, and will be offered a broad introduction to qualitative and quantitative research. Students will undertake a weekend of residential fieldwork early in Term 1 where they will practice a variety of field methods on a range of field research topics in Quaternary, upland, fluvial, and hillslope environments.
• In Term 2, the module focuses more specifically on a range of current methods in physical geography, offering students more in-depth skills acquisition, field data analysis and practical learning. Students will build upon data collected on the residential field trip in Term 1, supplemented by additional data from the same locations, to explore a range of methods, such as analysing aerial imagery and environmental modelling. In the practicals, students will apply this knowledge to particular research techniques. The module thereby offers a grounding in physical geography research that prepares students for more advanced technical training and skills development and implementation later in the degree programme.
• Lecture themes (Term 1): Research design (including decolonising methodology and ethics), quantitative techniques and data analysis, including GIS, and qualitative techniques and data analysis, focusing on interviews.
• Practicals (Term 1): Quantitative techniques and data analysis, including GIS, and qualitative techniques and data analysis, focusing on interviews.
• Fieldwork (Early Term 1): The physical environment: one 3-day field course
• Lecture (Term 2): Introduction to linking primary and secondary data and the geographical skills workshops.
• Practicals (Term 2): Geographical skills workshops, working with primary (field-based) and secondary data, and tutorials.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
• Understand the linkages between research design, information collection, analysis, display and interpretation
• Demonstrate understanding of basic statistical terminology
• Demonstrate understanding of appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods
• Understand and practise aerial image interpretation and mapping
• Show an awareness of the strengths of coupling primary and secondary data analysis
• Show an understanding of the ethical and conceptual underpinnings of research
• Demonstrate an understanding of a range of methods to undertake geographical analysis and research
• Understand linkages between hydrology, sediments, vegetation and landforms

Subject-specific Skills:

• On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
• Formulate basic research questions and proposals in physical geography contexts
• Design simple research projects using a diversity of approaches and techniques
• Demonstrate an ability to select appropriate software packages to undertake geographical analysis
• Demonstrate basic competence with methods of observation and analysis of the physical environment
• Apply basic statistics to geographical data

Key Skills:

• Analytical skills
• Designing questionnaires
• Ability to describe, analyse, interpret and synthesise data
• Ability to present findings using oral, written and electronic media
• Ability to work effectively within a group

• Lectures will provide an introduction and theoretical background to underpin the fieldwork and practical work. These will be supported by additional reading, which will enable the student to build on information provided in the lectures.
• Since learning outcomes are focused on skills and methods, practicals and fieldwork will play an important role in the module by providing active learning environments where the students are encouraged to engage with the subject matter.
• Formative feedback will allow students to develop skills that will be the focus of summative assessment. This summative work will allow students to demonstrate their ability to describe, analyse, interpret and synthesise data, and present it using oral, written and electronic media
• Fieldwork will enable the student to gain 'hands on' experience of group work, examining, describing and collecting data using a range of techniques and methods in a range of environments.
• The assessment is carefully aligned with the learning outcomes, which are focussed on skills. A combination of a group report, multiple choice knowledge questions and a scientific report make up the summative assessment.

Ongoing feedback on practical tasks A set of self-paced questions and problems, accompanied with fully developed explanatory solutions that will allow students to work through problems of statistics and GIS as Term 1 progresses.

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