RESEARCH METHODS
Essential Reading
Best S (2012) Understanding & Doing Successful Research, Pearson: Harlow
Bryman, A (2012) Social Research Methods, Oxford University Press: Oxford
Clough, P and Nutbrown, C. (2012) A Student’s Guide to Methodology 3rd Edition, Sage: London
Clark, V.L. and Cresswell, J.W. (Eds) (2007) The Mixed Methods Reader, SAGE: London
Denscombe, M (2010) The Good Research Guide for Small-Scale Social Research Projects, Berkshire and New York: Open University Press
Flowerdew, R. and Martin, D. ed (2005) Methods in Human Geography: a guide for students doing a research project, Pearson: Basingstoke
Gilbert, N.ed (2008) Researching Social Life: Third Edition, SAGE: London
Hammond, M and Wellington, J (2012) Research Methods: the Key Concepts, Routledge: Abingdon, Oxon and New York
Montello, DR and Sutton, P (2010) Scientific Research Methods in Geography and Environmental Studies, 2nd Ed. Sage: Los Angeles, London and New Delhi
Parsons, A. and Knight, P.G. (2005) How to Do Your Dissertation in Geography and Related Disciplines 2nd ed, Routledge: London
Ridley, D. (2012) The Literature Review, 2nd Edition, SAGE: London
Seale, C. (ed) (2012) Researching Society and Culture 3rd Edition, SAGE: London.
Wisker, G (2009) The Undergraduate Research Handbook. Palgrave MacMillan: Basingstoke and New York
Recommended Reading
Aitken, S. and Valentine, G. ed (2006) Approaches to Human Geography, SAGE: London
Banks, M. (2007) Using Visual Data in Qualitative Research, Sage: London
Barbour, RS. (2008) Introducing Qualitative Research: A Student Guide to the craft of doing qualitative research, Sage: London
Charmaz, K (2014) Constructing Grounded Theory 2nd Ed. Sage: London
Cloke, C., Cook, I., Crang, P., Goodwin, M., Painter, J., Philo, C. (2004) Practicing Human Geography, SAGE: London
Clough, P. and Nutbrown, C. (2007) A Student’s Guide to Methodology 2nd Edition, SAGE: London.
Coffey, A (1999) The Ethnographic Self: Fieldwork and the Representation of Identity. Sage: New York, London and New Delhi
Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y.S. (2007) The Landscape of Qualitative Research, SAGE: London
Jones, A. (ed) (2012) The Feminism and Visual Cultural Reader 2nd Edition, Routledge: Abingson
Kitchin, R and Tate, NJ (2000) Conducting Research into Human Geography: theory, methodology & practice, Pearson: Harlow
Phillips, R and Johns, J. (2012) Fieldwork for Human Geography, SAGE: London
Silverman, D (2013) A Very Short, Fairly Interesting and Reasonably cheap book
About Qualitative Research. Sage: London
Tickell, A. Sheppard, E., Peck, J. and Barnes, T. ed (2007) Politics and Practice in Economic Geography, Sage: London
Willis, J.W. (2007) Foundations of Qualitative Research: Interpretive and Critical Approaches, Sage: London
Additional Reading
Botkin, D.B. & Heller, E.A., 2012. Environmental Science (8th edn). Wiley.
Chapter 2: The Scientific Method and Environmental Sciences.
Chapter 3: How to Think About Complex Systems.
Brown, A. (2001), Habitat Monitoring for Conservation and Management. 3. Technical Guide, CCW.
Field, A. & Hole, G. (2011) How to Design and Report Experiments, Sage.
Gilbertson, D. D., Kent. M. & Pyatt, F. B. (1985), Practical Ecology for Geography and Biology, Hutchinson
Gomez, B. and Jones, J.P. (2010) Research Methods in Geography: a critical introduction Wiley-Blackwell (available on line)
Haynes, R. (1982) Environmental Science Methods, Chapman and Hall
Hurford, C. & Perry, K. (2001), Habitat Monitoring for Conservation and Management. 1. Case Studies, CCW
Hurford, C., Jones, M. R. & Brown, A. (2001), Habitat Monitoring for Conservation and Management, 2. Field Methods, CCW
Institute of Environmental Assessment (1995), Guidelines for Baseline Ecological Assessment, E & F. N. Spon, London.
Jones, A., Duck, R., Reed, R. & Weyers, J., 2000. Practical Skills in Environmental Science. Prentice Hall.
JNCC (1993), Handbook for Phase I Habitat Survey: a Technique for Environmental Audit. JNCC.
Kent, M & Coker, P (1998), Vegetation Description. A Practical Approach, John Wiley & Sons.
Newing, H. Eagle, C.M., Puri, Rajindra, K., and Watson, C.W. (2011) Conducting Research in Conservation: Social Science Methods and Practice, Routledge (also available on-line).
Sutherland W. J. (ed) (1996). Ecological Census Techniques: a Handbook, CUP
Watts, S. & Halliwell, L. (eds) (1996), Essential Environmental Science: methods and techniques, Routledge
Assessment
The assessment for the module is 100% coursework consisting of an IT File (40%) and a Research Proposal (60%)
Assignment 1:
IT Survey design and analysis
A critical reflection on the survey process and experience
Questionnaire topics
The impact of part-time working on students’ university experience
Assignment 1: Activity 1 – IT Survey design and analysis(1000 words)
The task is to design, conduct, analyse and critically reflect on a questionnaire. You will present the assessment in a report containing the following headings:
Introduction (10%) An explanation of the research topic, covering its significance, key relevant academic literature, and reasons for your choice of focus. Describe the population of the research topic.
Objective(s) (5%) What you hope to achieve.
Research Questions (15%) A central research question or hypothesis. Also, between 15 and 20 sub-questions and/or hypotheses, with an explanation of how each can answer/inform the central question/hypothesis.
Methods (25%) Describe and qualify the questionnaire design you have adopted. The main emphasis of this section is the statistical methods used. Other areas to cover should include:
• The types of questions asked, and response categories;
• The sample selection and distribution method;
• The physical design of the questionnaire;
• A brief discussion of other data collection and recording methods that might (or might not) be suitable, and that could be deployed in more in-depth research (such as a dissertation).
The questionnaire should be included in or appended to this section.
Results (25%) Carry out your questionnaire survey on a suitable sample of between 15 and 20 respondents. Set out your results under the following headings:
• Presentation of data
• Analysis of data
• Summary of Results
Reflection (10%)
Critically reflect on each aspect of the questionnaire
Notes
Content should not exceed 1,000 words, excluding references, appendices and tables, charts and diagrams.
The percentage weightings refer to comparative importance within the assessment, and not necessarily word count. An additional 10% is allocated to presentation, and referencing in accordance with SHU guidelines.
RESEARCH METHODS ASSIGNMENT 1 IT FILE – ASSESSMENT FEEDBACK SHEET – 2014/15
Criteria (weighting) Below 40% 40%-49% 50%-59% 60%-69% 70%+
Clarity and logic with which the research topic, focus and objective are set out (15%).
Clear and relevant-to-the-topic research questions, with valid substantiation of the sub-questions (15%).
Presentation and explanation of the questionnaire. Explanation of the statistical tests deployed, and a clear appreciation of other data collection methods (25%).
Clear and accurate presentation of results using a variety of statistical methods. Meaningful analysis and a clear and accurate summary (25%).
Critical and constructive reflection (10%).
Standard of presentation, including referencing and labelling (10%)
