GEG-20009 - Geographical Research Training
Coordinator: Deirdre Cc Mckay Room: WSF21 Tel: +44 1782 7 33601
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733615

Programme/Approved Electives for 2021/22

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2021/22

This module comprises a series of sessions in which students will develop skills in searching and reviewing academic literature relating to current Geographical debates/discourses, formulating research questions, and framing aims and objectives to develop a proposal for their own research project. The module culminates in a residential field course where students will have the opportunity to put their Geographical research skills into practice in the real world. Students choose one from the range of residential or digital field courses available each year within Geography, depending on preference and degree pathway. Field course locations may vary each year depending on staff availability and travel restrictions.

Aims
The aims of this module are to enable students to develop their:
knowledge and understanding of particular aspects of physical and/or human geography in the selected location
ability to collect, evaluate, synthesise and analyse data on selected aspects of human and/or physical geographies collected in the field
transferable skills e.g. group and individual work, timekeeping, meeting tight deadlines
research skills including research planning, design, and execution; competence in specialist geographical techniques
ability to evaluate and select appropriate techniques

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/geg-20009/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

recognise and make choices between the different methodological approaches to geographical research: 1,2
frame research questions, aims and objectives, and design effective and achievable research projects: 1,2
reflect on the potential risks associated with independent research as well as the moral and ethical issues of any research project: 1,2
design, plan, execute and present the findings of a field-based research project: 2
conduct Geographical research in an unfamiliar, real world setting: 2
effectively search and critically review the academic literature relating to a current debate/discourse within Geography: 1

Study hours

30 hours classes (including research design and project development workshops, field work briefing sessions, online seminars and 1:1 dissertation tutorials with advisors)
75 hours field course, including producing portfolio
45 hours researching and producing an individual research proposal


School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Research Proposal weighted 30%
A 2,000 word research proposal which incorporates a ~1,000 word literature review
A research proposal (maximum of 2,000 words, plus risk assessment and preliminary ethics review form) which comprises of the following components: a research question; an overall context for the proposal research; a critical literature review (~1,000 words); clearly identified aims and objectives; an outline of methods and data sources; an overview of a proposed study location; a realistic and achievable research timetable; a completed risk assessment and preliminary ethics review form.

2: Practice Based Assessment weighted 70%
Portfolio of field course assessments
A portfolio of assessments which relate to one of the field courses currently offered within Geography. The portfolio will comprise a number of assessments which will examine a student's ability to design, plan, execute and present the findings of their field-based research. The destination of field courses may vary each year depending on staff availability and may be delivered digitally when travel restrictions are in place. Choice of field course depends on student preference and degree pathway.