Dr Laura Antona

This course is compulsory on the BA in Geography and BSc in Economic History and Geography. This course is available on the BSc in Environment and Sustainable Development, Erasmus Reciprocal Programme of Study and Exchange Programme for Students from University of California, Berkeley. This course is freely available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. It does not require permission. This course is freely available to General Course students. It does not require permission.

This course is capped. Places will be assigned on a first come first served basis.

This course introduces students to the production of geographical and environmental knowledge and prepares them to become producers of such knowledge themselves. It provides students with an understanding of both the conceptual foundations and real-world applications of a variety of quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches used for conducting geographic research. To appreciate why, how, and to what ends geographers conduct research on the social and spatial dimensions of human activity, the research process is examined from beginning to end. The course engages with internationally-renowned researchers, discusses the rationale for choosing different methodological approaches, and provides students with the opportunity to design some independent research.

10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the Autumn Term.
10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the Winter Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn and Winter Term.

In the Department of Geography and Environment, teaching will be delivered through a combination of classes/seminars, pre-recorded lectures, live online lectures and other supplementary interactive live activities.

Formative assessments consist of submission of problem sets and a 1,000 word research design.

Clifford, N., French, S. and Valentine, G. (2010) Key methods in geography. London: Sage Publications Ltd. 

Flowerdew, R. and Martin, D. (2005) Methods in human geography: a guide for students doing a research project. London: Routledge.

Harris, R. and Jarvis, C. (2011) Statistics in geography and environmental science. Abingdon: Routledge.

Hay, I. and Cope, M. (2021) Qualitative research methods in human geography (5th edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

Healey, J.F. (2015) Statistics: a tool for social research (10th edition). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. 

Presentation (30%).

This component of assessment includes an element of group work.

Research design (35%, 1500 words).

Project (35%, 2500 words).