This module provides both a formal and practical understanding of the tasks involved in undertaking pure and applied social research with an emphasis on geographical research. You will be taken through the various stages of the research process, addressing issues that include: problem-specification, research design, measurement and measuring instruments, sampling, survey implementation, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, the use GIS in planning research and interpretation of results. You will also be taught how to undertake a literature review, how to write research reports and how to present research. This module builds on BSc 1 Introduction to Research Methods.

• to provide a formal understanding of the scientific principles that govern the activities of social research;
• to provide a practical understanding of the research process and its constituent tasks;
• to encourage students to think empirically about ideas introduced in other modules;
• to give an understanding of qualitative approaches to research in the social sciences;
• to give an understanding of the use of IT and GIS in planning research;
• to establish the links between qualitative and quantitative research techniques and demonstrate how the two forms of analysis may be used together in social science research;
• to provide instruction on doing a literature review and writing up and presenting research;
• to provide instruction on creating effective visual map outputs for planning research.

The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops and in-class seminars.

• Scientific sampling, survey management, and the design and implementation of questionnaires;
• GIS and database creation, management and analysis;
• Geo-visualisation of spatial and planning data;
• Undertaking Interviewing and  focus groups;
• Undertaking academic and policy literature reviews;
• Writing up and presenting research findings to a professional audience.
• ICT(Information Communication Technology)skills.
• Statistical analysis and GIS skills (using SPSS and ArcView GIS)
• Problem solving skills
• Communication and writing skills

• 25% Group Project on Qualitative Methods in early December
• 25% Group Presentation Slides on Survey Design in late January
• 25% Independent GIS Project in late March
• 25% Independent project in mid May
• 0% Group Presentation on Survey Design - Evaluating the design of a public survey in late December (15 minutes)

Module timetable:

A series of lectures, workshops and computer practicals will introduce students to the theory and techniques of undertaking geography-related research. The combination of lectures, workshops, practicals and project-work will allow students to develop a disciplined approach to social research tempered by a first-hand understanding of the practical problems typically encountered in applying pure methodology. To satisfy learning outcomes, all fourassessments must be passed (with a pass mark of 40%) for the student to pass the module.

Bryman, A. (2001) Social Research Methods,Oxford University Press.

Burgess, R. (1982) Field Research: ASourcebook and Field Manual, London: Routledge.

Clifford, N. and Valentine, G. (eds.)(2003) Key Methods in Geography, London: Sage.

Denzin,N.and Lincoln,Y.(eds.) (2000) The Handbook of Qualitative Research, London: Sage.

de Vaus D.A. (1991) Surveys in Social Research, London: Allen and Unwin.

Longley, P., Goodchild,M.F,,Maguire,D.J., and Rhind,D.W. (eds.) (2005) Geographical Information Systems andScience,2^nd edition, New YorkandChichester: John Wiley&Sons.

(Longley, P., Goodchild,M.F,,Maguire,D.J., and Rhind,D.W. (eds.) (2010) Geographical Information Systems andScience,3^rd edition, New YorkandChichester: John Wiley&Sons.)

Morgan, D.L. (1997) Focus Groups as Qualitative Research,London: Sage.

O’Sullivan, D. and Unwin, D.J. (2002) Geographic Information Analysis, John Wiley & Sons.

(O’Sullivan, D. and Unwin, D.J. (2010) Geographic Information Analysis, 2^nd edition, John Wiley & Sons.)

Rogerson, P.A. (2006) Statistical Methods for Geography: A Student’s Guide, 2^nd edition, Sage Publications.

(Rogerson, P.A. (2010) Statistical Methods for Geography: A Student’s Guide, 3^rd edition, Sage Publications.)