| Unit name | Qualitative Research Methods for Human Geography |
|---|---|
| Unit code | GEOG20037 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Crane |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None. |
| School/department | School of Geographical Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This course will equip students to critique and interrogate how geographical research is shaped by distinctive qualitative research methods. It guides students through a broad range of established methods, for example archives, surveys, interviewing, visual, and ethnography. The unit also develops students’ understanding of cutting-edge and new methods, such as collage, walking, and engaged research for change. Teaching is divided between lectures and interactive practical exercises, enabling students to practice and test out qualitative methods with academics and practitioners. Students will thus learn to rethink the research they encounter in academia and beyond. They will see how such research methods are helping academics, today, to answer some of the most pressing social, economic, and political questions of our times. Students will also become better equipped to develop as independent researchers themselves – skills which will guide their engagement with year 2 field trips and in their year 3 dissertation projects. Within this remit, the unit aims are:
On completion of this Unit students should be able to:
The following transferable skills are developed in this Unit:
The unit will be taught through in-person teaching, augmented by online teaching if necessary. We will see:
Annotated bibliography (20%). [ILOs 3-4]
Group project (80%). [ILOs 1-5]
When assessment does not go to plan
The annotated bibliography (20%) will be set as an alternative assessment.
In place of the group project (80%), students will complete a Research project design briefing.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. GEOG20037).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
