GG3574: RESEARCH DESIGN (2018-2019)

Last modified: 22 May 2019 17:07

Course Overview

This core course builds on GG2508 to provide an introduction to the conduct of research in the Geosciences at an advanced level. It is intended to familiarise students with the skills necessary to design, implement and write up effective research. These skills will support work on undergraduate dissertations and other project work. The course also introduces careers research skills, and explores how you can best make use of your degree in the 'real world' after graduation: workshops run in partnership with the University's Career Service provide practical advice and training on how best to develop your career.

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	3
Term	Second Term	Credit Points	15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus	None.	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Dr Nicholas Spedding Dr Lorna Philip

Qualification Prerequisites

Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

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

Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
Either Geography (GG) (Studied) or Marine And Coastal Resource Management (MR) (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

GG3052 Approaches to Earth and Environmental Science (Studied)
GG3564 Research Design and Methods (Studied)
GG3566 Research Design and Methods (Joint Programmes) (Studied)
GG3571 Research Design (Studied)
GG3572 Research Design (Studied)
GG3573 Research Design (Studied)
MS3553 Research Methods for Business (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

The nature of the research process.
Considering 'what makes a good piece of research' and 'how does a particular approach to your subject influence the type of research undertaken'.
Aims and learning outcomes of the undergraduate dissertation. Selecting research topics and developing research questions.
Literature searches and how to write a literature review.
Sources of quantitative and qualitative secondary data.
Data collection methods applicable to a wide range of geographical research questions.
Strategies for interpreting qualitative data.
Research ethics.
Health and safety for researchers.
Writing up research, how to present your dissertation and make the most of your research efforts.

The course also introduces careers research skills, and explores how you can best make use of your degree in the 'real world' after graduation: workshops run in partnership with the University's Career Service provide practical advice and training on how best to develop your career.

Further Information & Notes

This course may not be taken as part of a graduating curriculum with GG 3573.

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

1st Attempt: 100% coursework. Students choose two assignments (each worth 50%) from : (i) research contexts essay; (ii) preliminary literature review / research planning exercise (this being compulsory for students intending to complete their dissertation in G&E; (iii) short report: data analysis and interpretation case study; iv) portfolio of careers-reated coursework.

Resit: Resubmission of failed assignment(s), with mark for those components to be capped at CAS 9.

Formative Assessment

Feedback on summative assessments should help students to improve their subsequent performances within the course and for subsequent courses. For dissertation students, the course incorporates the initial stages of supervision. Although summatively assessed for the purposes of this course, the preliminary literature review acts as a key component of formative assessment for the final dissertation.

Feedback

Students receive individual, written feedback on their coursework using standard comments sheets. Dissertation students are also expected to liaise with their supervisor, to include two formal meetings.

Course Learning Outcomes