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GG5575: RESEARCH DESIGN AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT IN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (2022-2023)

Last modified: 31 Jul 2023 11:19


Course Overview

This course equips students with the skills required to do research. The course content steers students through the preparatory stages of undertaking a new, independent research project. Students will develop information management skills, literature review skills and strategies for developing research questions, designing a methodological strategy, and preparing a formal research proposal and plan. Course assessment is designed to allow students to develop their research interests.

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Lorna J. Philip

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Tailored specifically to the needs of early career researchers, the course content is designed to steer students through the preparatory stages of undertaking a new, independent research project. Content includes:

  • Information skills: developing the knowledge and skills required to become an efficient and effective information manager including literature search skills, keeping up to date with emerging research, organising references, understanding open access policies, copyright and good practice in disseminating information.
  • Literature review skills: different types of literature review will be introduced and the PRISMA framework will be used to structure a preliminary literature review on the students’ selected research topic designed to develop the ability to review the work of others and conceptualise and frame independent dissertation research.  
  • Developing aims and objectives: the formulation of problems and development of research questions, including reflections on attributes of theory driven and ‘real world’ research,
  • Selecting a methodological strategy: reviewing different approaches to research and evaluating their attributes, strengths and weaknesses
  • Ethics and ‘field’ research

Project management: including developing a research timetable and planning outputs and managing budgets.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Research proposal for MRes dissertation, focused on methodology

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks 42 Feedback Weeks 43

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

This assignment is designed to formally present a research proposal for their MRes Dissertation, focusing upon the methodology to be deployed.

Written feedback will be provided and students will discuss this feedback in a one to one oral feedback session.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

PRISMA review (to include an annotated bibliography and systematic literature review)

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 60
Assessment Weeks 39 Feedback Weeks 40

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

This assignment is designed to allow students to demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of literature aligned with their research topic and it will explicitly inform the development the MRes Dissertation.

Written feedback will be provided and students will discuss this feedback in a one to one oral feedback session.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Revised research proposal for MRes dissertation, focused on methodology

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

This assignment is designed to formally present a research proposal for their MRes Dissertation, focusing upon the methodology to be deployed.

Written feedback will be provided and students will discuss this feedback in a one to one oral feedback session.

To take place within a month of feedback being provided for first attempt

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Revised PRISMA review (to include an annotated bibliography and systematic literature review)

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 60
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

This assignment is designed to allow students to demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of literature aligned with their research topic and it will explicitly inform the development the MRes Dissertation.

Written feedback will be provided and students will discuss this feedback in a one to one oral feedback session.

To take place within a month of feedback being provided for first attempt

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyDeepen understanding of field of special interest, develop the ability to review the work of others and to conceptualise and frame a new research project (independent dissertation)
ConceptualEvaluateProvide a critical stance on the appropriate use of different research methods in the context of geographical inquiry
ReflectionEvaluateReflect on the ethics surrounding contemporary Human Geography research and their application to a ‘real world’ situation (independent dissertation)
ProceduralUnderstandDevelop an understanding of research project management in the context of a ‘real work; situation (independent dissertation)

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