Researching Human Geography: Design, Methods and Ethics GEOG5022

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
  • Credits: 40
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Runs Throughout Semesters 1 and 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course provides students with a range of predominantly qualitative research methods, and methodological approaches, considering their applicability and role in different research settings

Timetable

Typically Thursday 3pm-5pm across semester 1 and 2

Requirements of Entry

Permission of Head of Department

Excluded Courses

  GEOG5121 Research Design, Ethics and Impact

Assessment

Class essay (semester 1)

Oral presentation (in person or pre-recorded) (early semester 2)

Project (semester 2)

Course Aims

■ developing an awareness of a range of qualitative research methods and their applicability in different research settings;

■ enabling students to undertake research design and supporting them to conduct independent research in various contexts  

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of the course the student the student should be able to:

■ provide a critical stance on the appropriate use of different research methods (e.g. interview, archival, visual methods) in the context of geographical inquiry;

■ explain the use of relevant concepts and methods, in researching particular 'real world' situations of space, policy and power;

■ analyse the ethics surrounding 'field' research in many different worldly contexts;

■ provide evidence, through assessments of independent critical thought;

■ analyse the specificities of people and place, using suitable concepts and methods within (and with reference to) different 'real world' contexts; 

■ provide evidence of the ability to organise work schedules, with particular reference to background research and coursework submission.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Attendance at all seminars and completion of assessed coursework