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Welcome to this module
Dear students, welcome to this module GEO 3142 Research Methods in Geography, which is accessible online for students registered in CODEL programme.
Module’s aim
The aim of this module is to provide students with a solid understanding of the often bewildering array of research methods and techniques that are used to collect data and conduct analysis in order to address research questions and prove or disprove hypotheses. It also aims to equip students with skills in methods and techniques around data generation and processing, research and instrument design, evaluation and inference drawing, and reporting system.
Intended learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
• Select an appropriate technique for a given research design or type of research question
• Understand the distinctions between primary and secondary data, extensive and intensive research designs, qualitative and quantitative data and analysis, positionality and the ethics of research.
• Understand the issues of rigour and validity in the research process.
• Undertake collection and analysis of different types of data, including numeric and textual data, or understand the principles and practices behind data collection and analysis.
• Develop transferable skills, particularly in critical thinking and the synthesis of ideas, written and oral communication, participation in small-group discussions, problem-solving, information literacy, numeracy, self-management and time-management.
• Introduce to Action Research.
• Improve Academic Writing skills.
Course summary
Identification of a research problem, formulation of a research topic, literature search, research approach and research design. Methods and techniques of data collection, data analysis, processing and interpretation, regression equation and correlation, combination analysis and probability, samples and theories of sampling and estimation, significance tests. Data analysis and interpretation, research ethics and writing presentation of scientific research reports.
Facilitators' contacts
The module will be facilitated by the following two lecturers:
- Dr. Aime Tsinda aime.tsinda@gmail.com Tel 0788305960
- Dr Celestin Kayonga kayongaceles@yahoo.co.uk Tel 0784657733
Learning resources
This module will be the main learning resources, but you will also have to consult the references given below.
Reading advice
The reading specified for this module is unlike that for any other course that you might study. It has been deliberately restricted to a handful of key texts. There will be many fewer than usual references to specific journal articles or books. However, the emphasis is on methods here and it is anticipated that you will be learning by doing most of the time, although this will inevitably involve reference to and reading the key texts.
Internet sources are invaluable in providing, often official, information for geographers to use. Again from time to time you will be referred to some representative sites to access data or other information. If you search out your own sites and sources (which you are encouraged to do) always be aware that there is little quality control on the information publicly available on the internet. It is always worth asking questions about quality of data provided and motives for providing them. The following databases are accessible on URCE desktops.