Doing Human Geography Research

Module title	Doing Human Geography Research
Module code	GEO2338
Academic year	2024/5
Credits	30
Module staff	Dr Matt Finn ()

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	10	10

Number students taking module (anticipated)	180

Module description

This module provides you with an opportunity to gain an advanced understanding of how to design and do high-quality research in human geography. The module is designed to prepare you for undertaking research within and beyond the university context; especially dissertation research, and seeks to equip you with key employability attributes for professional careers. The module will be taught using a variety of formats and is one of the compulsory modules you study as part of a BA Geography degree, as well as being a required module for Flexible Combined Honours students wishing to undertake a residential human geography field course in the final year and / or a dissertation.

Module aims - intentions of the module

In this module you will:

Develop a critically engaged understanding of how human geographers design and implement research projects;
Gain practical experience of designing and doing human geography research and through this learn about the geographies of consumption;
Work through a process to explore, develop and articulate ideas for dissertation research.

The module has the following objectives:

To consider the research process and the ethical implications of different research practices;
To understand key research design approaches and issues, drawing on different traditions in the social sciences;
To analyse research data and consider how research can be communicated to different audiences;
To evaluate different forms of research design and their likely impacts and outcomes;
To lead you through a process by which you explore and articulate your ideas for dissertation research.

The module develops a range of skills of value in employment particularly around understanding and taking part in the process of creating, developing and communicating ideas and taking initiative to translate these into programmes of ethical and rigorous action through project management approaches. It allows you to extend your knowledge of an area of interest in an enquiry-led approach and to develop a dissertation topic and, where relevant, results in networking for research which can also be used to aid future employment opportunities. The module encourages the development of creative and imaginative problem-solving skills and specific parts of the course focus on employability in relation to research skills and the dissertation.

The module is informed by research expertise both in and beyond Geography at Exeter and literature on designing effective research in Human Geography. It is also informed by pedagogic research on effective approaches to support students in developing dissertation plans.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Engage with various approaches to producing and interpreting geographical knowledge
2. Develop a working understanding of research design and its associated practical issues and challenges in human geography

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Identify/formulate and evaluate questions or problems
4. Make informed choices between a number of approaches and issues involved in collecting, analysing and presenting geographical information, whether qualitative or quantitative
5. Evaluate the issues involved in research design and its application in the context of human geography
6. Show consideration of relevant ethical issues

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

7. Use ICT effectively and appropriately to analyse and present geographical information
8. Effectively and appropriately interpret and evaluate different forms of research design and practice

Syllabus plan

The module has three parts

Part 1: Fundamentals of Research Design

Part 2: Doing Human Geography Research

Part 3: Developing Dissertation Research Plans

The module is taught mainly through online ELE resources which support on campus or online workshops and tutorials with a significant component of research conducted as research teams and supported by module tutors who act as project advisors.

The syllabus plan is indicative of the kinds of issues we will explore in the module:

Principles of research design
Approaches to research design
Introducing the geographies of consumption
Formulating ideas for research projects
Forming research questions and reviewing literature
Ethical practice in research
Methods and methodologies
Practical considerations in research design
Issues of rigour, validity and generalisability
The process of analysing and writing-up
Preparing for a longer projects i.e. a dissertation

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Dissertation proposal	Up to 2000 words using template	2-4, 6	Verbal

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Research report	60	3000 words	1-8	Written
Essay	40	1500 words	1-8	Written
Ethics form (non-submission of a completed form by the designated date results in process to assess whether an individuals research report mark should be reduced including to zero - if appropriate ethical practice and reflection is not in evidence).	0	Template provided	6	None. Submission of a completed form is a requirement of the ethics process set out for this module.

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Research report	Research report (3000 words, 60%)	1-8	Referral/Deferral period
Essay	Essay (1500 words, 40%)	1-8	Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

The following represents an indicative list of basic reading to accompany key components of this module. Guidance on additional reading will be provided alongside sessions during the module.

Clark, T., Foster, L., Sloan, L. and Bryman, A. (eds) (2021) Bryman’s social research methods, 6th Edition Oxford: Oxford University Press
Clifford, N., Cope, M., and Gillespie, T. (eds) (2023) Key Methods in Geography, 4th edition London: Sage
Flowerdew R and Martin D (Eds) (2005) Methods in Human Geography: A Guide for Students Doing a Research Project. Harlow: Prentice Hall
Kitchen R and Tate N J (2000) Conducting research in human geography. Harlow: Prentice Hall
Parsons T and Knight P G (2005) How to do your dissertation in geography and related disciplines. London: Routledge
Peters K (2017) Your Human Geography Dissertation: Designing, Doing, Delivering. London: Sage

Web-based and electronic resources:

ELE page

Key words search

Geography, consumption, human geography, research design

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	12/03/2024
Last revision date	12/03/2024