GG27310 - PRACTISING HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Module Identifier	GG27310
Module Title	PRACTISING HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Academic Year	2001/2002
Co-ordinator	Dr Luke Desforges
Semester	Semester 2
Other staff	Dr Martin Jones, Dr Mark Whitehead, Dr Richard Lucas
Pre-Requisite	GG10110 , DA10210 , GG10210 , GG10720
Mutually Exclusive	GG21710
Course delivery	Lecture	16 Hours 8 x 2 hrs
	Workshop	2 Hours 2 x 1 hr
Assessment	Continuous assessment	Students will be required to submit two out of four assignments on the following topics by the dates indicated by module coordinators: Historical documents, Contemporary Texts, Interviewing, Participant Observation. These two assignments carry equal weighting: each is worth 50% of the total mark.
	Resit assessment	Resubmit missing assignments or assignments <40% as specified by Module Co-ordinator by 1st day of August Supplementary Examination period.

Module outline

Introduction: Practising Human Geography.

Using the archive in historical geography.

Analysing historical documents.

Analysing Contemporary Documents.

Analysing Images.

Market Research Questionnaires.

Interviewing and Focus Groups.

Participant Observation.

Analysing Ethnographic Material.

Workshop 1: Historical Sources.
Workshop 2: Textual Sources.
Workshop 3: Interviewing.
Workshop 4: Participant Observation.

Module Aims

This module provides students with a theoretical and practical knowledge of the methodological techniques which are used to produce knowledge in human geography. It provides skills which will be used by students in the field, and in particular for their dissertation project.

Module objectives / Learning outcomes

The key questions addressed by the module are:

Choosing a methodology appropriate to the research questions you are posing.

The practicalities of using specific methodologies.

Analysing and communicating geographical material.

By the end of the module students wll be familiar with the differences between qualitative techniques in human geography at an epistemological, analytical and practical level.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Flowerdew, R. and Martin, D. (1997) Methods in Human Geography: a guide for students doing a research project. Longman, Harlow
Kitchin, R. and Tate, N. (2000) Conducting Research in Human Geography: Theory, Methodology and Practice. Longman, Harlow.