Practising Human Geography: Methods, Approaches, and Contexts

Wedi cwblhau'r modiwl dylai'r myfyrwyr fedru:

1. Research, identify, select and justify the use of relevant methods associated with various Human Geography research.
2. Critically assess the ethics, pragmatics and power relations surrounding the application of particular techniques in practice.
3. Outline the different conceptual approaches human geographers use to understand the social world
4. Critically assess the social and historical context of those approaches and their continuing relevance for geographers

Geography is an expansive discipline that has spawned a number of theoretical and methodological traditions, many of which continue to be practiced in various ways. While other disciplines tend to have a strong tradition of core topics that constitute their disciplinary purview, geographers often think of themselves as bringing a ‘spatial perspective’ to a wide variety of phenomenon, processes and events. This module will examine those traditions, explain their historical and contemporary relevance and connect them with a suite of research methods that form a core component of contemporary human geography and geography curricula. The module focusses on the motivations and objectives informing geographical knowledge, how these shape and emerge from social, historical and professional contexts, and how they are operationalised and applied to answer pressing questions. The module comprises a series of lectures and connected workshops in semester one to provide students with first-hand experience of methodological techniques. In semester two, lectures give a detailed account of current and emerging theories and concepts.

To introduce students to the range of traditions, approaches and methods within human geography and fulfil learning outcomes.

Semester 1 focuses on the approaches and underlying theoretical positions and priorities within the discipline which are delivered through a thematic series of lectures that are broadly chronological.

Semester 2 focuses on core methodological techniques through a combination of lecture and workshop-based sessions.

Mae'r modiwl hwn yn cydymffurfio a FfCChC Lefel 5