Qualitative methods are fundamental to much research in contemporary Planning and in Human Geography. Many of you will chose to use qualitative methods in your dissertations or final year projects. And many of you will find qualitative research skills useful in your careers. This module develops these skills, module building and strengthening the insights and skills on research methods gained from the Year One module Introducing Research Methods (CP0136).

This module develops these skills by broadening the range of qualitative research methods you are able to critically assess and use in your research projects. The module begins by emphasising the key relationship between philosophy and method and moves on to introduce you to advanced qualitative methods, including ethnography, journals, and film.

• Select and implement appropriate qualitative methods for conducting research to investigate self-selected research aims and objectives.
• Present a film account of the research theme and implementation of the selected research methods
• Provide a group justification for the methods selected and a group defence of their appropriateness

This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, group discussion and practical sessions.

• Ability to think critically and formulate research ideas and operationalise these into aims, objectives and questions
• Ability to align research questions, aims/objectives and methods
• Ability to select, design and implement appropriate qualitative methods
• Film-making as a method of research dissemination

Type of assessment

%

Contribution

Title

Duration
(if applicable)

Approx. date of Assessment

Group Project

75%

Qualitative research methods film documentary 

6 mins

December 2015

Individual essay

25%

Group justification for the methods selected and a group defence of their appropriateness

5-9

minutes

December 2015

The potential for reassessment in this module

Students will have the chance to be re-assessed the pieces of failed assessment in the August re-sit period. The re-sit work will be similar to the original set.

• Undertaking a literature Review
• Literature searching
• Ethnography , Auto Ethnography and Reflexive Journals
• Film and image as method
• Sound as method
• Focus groups
• Mobile Methods
• Film technique
• Project planning and research design

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

Denscombe, M. (2003) The good research guide for small-scale social research projects. Open University Press, Buckingham., 2^nd Edition

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

Flowerdew, R. and Martin, D. (eds.) (2005) Methods in Human Geography: A Guide for Students Doing

Research Projects, 2^nd Edition, Harlow: Addison Wesley Longman

Hart, C. (1998) Doing a Literature Review, London: Sage.

T. Parsons & P G Knight (2005) How to do your dissertation in Geography and related disciplines, London: Chapman & Hall 2^nd Edition

Walliman, N. (2001) Your Research Project: A Step by Step Guide for The First Time Researcher, London: Sage

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

Babbie, E. (1992) The Practice of Social Research, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

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

May, T. (1998) Social Research: Issues, Methods and Process, 2^nd edition, Open University Press.