BA Geography with International Study / Course details

GEOG 20072 is here to help you develop your research skills and prepare for your dissertation. It will enable you to apply skills that you are learning through your course units (including GEOG 20621 Skills for Geographers) and develop your ability to plan and execute research projects with attention to theoretical and methodological considerations. Within the framework of this unit, you will have the opportunity to develop and implement a research project in the field supported by field course leaders and working collaboratively with a team of your peers. We adhere to the Royal Geographical Society 'Principles for Undergraduate Field Courses' by offering low-carbon fieldwork options and ensuring that fieldwork is as safe, responsible, ethical, accessible and inclusive as possible. In this unit, you will also take first steps in the dissertation process, planning and developing a dissertation concept with the support of a dissertation advisor.

• To develop students’ abilities as creators of geographical knowledge
• To provide a theoretical basis as well as practical training in the elements of good research design, successful research methodologies
• To prepare students for the undertaking of the independent dissertation
 

The unit is split into three parts:

Block 1: Preparatory sessions
The first block consists of a mix of lectures and/or smaller group sessions to explore substantive and methodological issues related to themes covered in the field course. The sessions introduce the field course destination and support students in the design of research projects to be conducted while in the field. There are usually 5 preparatory sessions, although more may be required to cover logistics.

Block 2: In the field
The second block consists of a period of approximately one week in the field, during which time students will undertake their research projects, in addition to various self-organised and staff-organised activities.

Block 3: Designing dissertation research
Building upon the research skills developed during the field course, you will develop a proposal for your own individual dissertation. This is an extremely important process as the dissertation forms 40 credits of your third year. We guide you through this process, starting with Dissertation Kick-Off sessions and continuing with focused sessions hosted by your dissertation adviser. 
 

The course unit will be delivered through a mix of staff-led and student-led lectures, small group sessions and individual tutorials.

Students will be expected to undertake reading and preparatory work for the field course before departing and to carry on this work while in ‘the field’. Sessions will draw upon a range of resources, including PowerPoint slides which will be posted to Blackboard for all sessions, links to relevant web resources, core reading and video clips. A comprehensive archive of sources and links will be complied on Blackboard for student use.

While they all address the Intended Learning Outcomes listed above, each of the field courses involves slightly different forms of research and assessment as would be expected given the diverse places in which they take place. Accordingly, each trip has its own extensive handbook. The field courses will all be departing just ahead of, or after, the Easter break. In rare instances there may be a slight overlap with the Easter break. The year meeting at the start of the first semester of your second year will support the field course selection.

Block three, designing the dissertation, is supported through a combination of lectures, Q and A sessions, small group seminars and individual tutorials. We guide you through this process starting the Dissertation Kick-Off sessions and continuing in tutorials with your dissertation advisor. The dissertation lectures will cover the basic demands and timelines for the dissertation along with good practice in research design. These sessions also introduce the key skills of research design and discuss them in relation to what makes a good dissertation. There will be opportunity to talk with staff about various key aspects of the dissertation, including how to choose a topic, and design and execute research successfully. We will also focus on the ethical and risk implications for research and give you some ideas on appropriate topics.  

Students will be asked to submit a form indicating their topic area and will be allocated dissertation supervisor. They will then meet with their supervisor twice, first as a group, and secondly individually to discuss their research proposal. The proposal will be submitted after Easter and their field course, and then returned with detailed comments soon after. The final meeting will take place individually with their dissertation advisor after Easter to discuss the proposal and plans. 
 

• Describe the elements of a strong research project proposal
• Define the “aims”, “objectives” and “research questions” for a research project
   

• Think critically in order to identify and address novel and important research questions
• Interpret and analyse data to answer research questions
• Design a research project and select appropriate methods that are grounded in the academic literature
   

• Select and apply appropriate research methodologies
• Gather and analyse data in the field
   

• Develop the interpersonal skills required to work in a team
• Identify and articulate key findings
• Work in a team to develop a research project for a field setting 
• Manage time in order to meet strict deadlines
• Work independently
   

Formative Assessment Task:

1 Team Presentation – initial analysis and evaluation of fieldwork:
Towards the end of the field course students will deliver a team presentation, comprising an initial analysis of their fieldwork and some reflection on the efficacy of the research design.
Some students may take the lead in the design of the presentation, the content, and/or delivery of the presentation. All students are expected to ultimately contribute equally.

Length (word count/time):  No more than 10 minutes, including Q&A

Feedback:  Will be provided via formative discussions with staff and peers in preparation classes and in the field. Verbal feedback will be provided after the presentation.

Assessment task:

2A Individual write up of the field course research project
The essay should very briefly recount the scope of the research, how it contributes to the literature, the aims, research questions, and the methodology.
Most of the essay should be an analysis on the research data collected. The analysis should also draw upon wider academic literature.

Length:  2,000 words, excluding list of references
Feedback:  Written feedback will be provided within 15 working days of submission through Turnitin
Weighting: 50%

2B Alternative Assessment – Research report on an aspect of the field course
If a student is unable to attend the field course, students will be expected to contribute to all formative activities around the field course and contribute to the teamwork around research design.

For this assessment they will instead undertake:

1) An analysis of a desk-based research project around their field course destination (1,500 words). 
The task will be supplied by the convenor of their allocated field course. As the student is not able to collect in-person data, they may draw upon digital methods, secondary datasets, or data provisioned by the teaching staff.
The essay should very briefly recount the scope of the research, how it contributes to the literature, the aims, research questions, and the methodology.
Most of the essay should be an analysis on the research data collected. The analysis should also draw upon wider academic literature.

2) A 500-word reflection on what they learned about research design through working in a team to design a project in the pre-departure field course classes.

Both of these tasks should be submitted as a single document through Turnitin.

Length: 2,000 words excluding list of references.
Feedback:  Written feedback will be provided within 15 working days of submission through Turnitin.
Weighting: 50%

3 Dissertation Proposal

Students will develop a dissertation proposal including a rationale (including aims and/or research questions), a proposed methodology, a mind-map to illustrate the linkages between the various components of the project, and a Gantt chart outlining a proposed timetable of activities.  
 

Length: Maximum 1,500 words excluding list of references plus a maximum of 1 side of A4 for each of the mind map and the Gantt chart. 
Feedback:  Written feedback will be provided within 15 working days of submission through Turnitin.
Weighting: 50%
 

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