Methods, Analysis and Techniques

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 5
• Convenor: Shino Shiode
• Assessment: a 2000-word research methods essay (60%) and 2000-word statistics coursework (40%)

The course is designed to offer training on research skills through exposure to various 'qualitative' and 'quantitative' research methods. They are delivered through discussion of a range of methods used for collecting and interpreting qualitative information as well as applications of statistical methods to geographic and environmental data. There will also be hands-on lab sessions to help you master the relevant skills for collecting data and applying analytical methods. Towards the end of the course, there will be a couple of small-group workshops on writing research proposals.

Indicative module content 

• Research journals, literature reviews and research questions
• Sampling design and questionnaire survey
• Semi-structured interviews
• Focus group
• Visual ethnography
• Analysing qualitative data
• Research ethics
• Secondary data and data collection
• Descriptive statistics
• Making graphs and tables
• Hypothesis testing and t-test
• Correlation analysis