This module builds and strengthens the insights and skills on research methodology gained from the CP0136 Introducing Research Methods in Year One.

This module develops these skills by broadening the range of quantitative research methods students are able to critically assess and use in their research projects and dissertation.

Quantitative methods, and statistical methods in particular, are highly sought after by a whole range of employers, policy makers and stakeholders and the module represents key training in these geography and planning methods and develops important transferable skills in the job market.

The module begins by highlighting quantitative research in geography, planning and policy, introduces questionnaires and surveys as a form of data collection and then discusses sampling strategies, population distributions and hypothesis testing before covering a range of statistical techniques within the context of undertaking a group project.

• Understand the importance of quantitative methods in academic and policy research and practice
• Demonstrate the use of sampling and questionnaires as a form of data collection in geography and planning research
• Demonstrate a range of hypothesis testing using a variety of statistical tests
• Explore and explain casual relationships through the use of statistical analysis in project work.

• Lectures – to provide formal understanding of the scientific principles that govern the activities of social research and provide examples, case studies and different methodologies and statistical techniques
• Field Work – to provide hands-on experience of data collection for project work
• Computer Lab work – to provide experience and skills for data synthesis, management and analysis for project work

• Ability to think critically and formulate research ideas and operationalise these into testable hypotheses
• To create and implement a questionnaire using an appropriate sampling strategy
• Statistical analysis techniques using packages such as SPSS / Excel / Quantum GIS
• Writing up and presenting statistical findings in a project report

Type of assessment

%

Contribution

Title

Duration
(if applicable)

Approx. date of Assessment

Group Project

60%

Statistical analysis report

2000 words plus tables, graphs and statistical output

Autumn

Class Test

40%

On-line multiple choice test

45 mins

Autumn

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

• Questionnaire design and implementation
• Sampling strategies
• Normal distribution and hypothesis testing
• T-tests
• F-tests
• Correlation
• Regression
• Writing up and presenting statistical research

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

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

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

Field, Andy (2009) Discovering Statistics using SPSS, Sage, Third Edition

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

Salkind, N.J. (2011) Statistics for people who (think they) hate statistics, 4^th edition, Sage Publications

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.