GY452 Half Unit
Urban Research Methods
This information is for the 2018/19 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Hyun Shin S601F
Additional teacher(s): Professor Sylvia Chant; Professor Gareth Jones; Dr Neil Lee; Professor Claire Mercer; Dr Romola Sanyal; Dr Austin Zeiderman
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Urban Policy (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Sciences Po) and MSc in Urbanisation and Development. This course is not available as an outside option.
This course is available on the MSc in Urban Policy (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Sciences Po) for those students who choose the MSc in Urbanisation and Development track for their Year 2 studies.
Pre-requisites
N/A
Course content
The course aims to introduce students to the key methods that are frequently mobilised to carry out research on urbanising societies around the world. Additionally, the course is to help students think more systematically about methodological considerations in order to execute a successful dissertation research. Below is a list of themes to be covered in the course:
- Designing an urban research project and ethics
- Comparative (case) studies
- Working with archives
- Interviews and focus groups
- Conducting ethnography
- Quantitative data and questionnaires
- Analysis and write-up
Teaching
8 hours of lectures, 12 hours of seminars and 6 hours of workshops in the LT.
Workshops are for students to present their research proposals. Seminars normally involve individual and/or small group activities, some of which are carried out in advance in preparation for seminars.
Formative coursework
Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the LT.
Indicative reading
Flyvbjerg, B. (2001) Making social science matter: Why social inquiry fails and how it can succeed again. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Hay, I. (ed.) (2010) Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography. 3rd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Heimer, M. and Thogersen, S. (eds.) (2006) Doing fieldwork in China. Copenhagen: NIAS Press
Hennink, M. et al (2011) Qualitative Research Methods. London; Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE
Sayer, A. (1992) Method in social science: A realist approach. London: Routledge
Ward, K. (ed.) (2012) Researching the city: a guide for students. London: Sage
Assessment
Essay (60%, 2500 words) and research proposal (20%) in the ST.
Presentation (20%) in the LT.
Key facts
Department: Geography & Environment
Total students 2017/18: 20
Average class size 2017/18: 20
Controlled access 2017/18: Yes
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Leadership
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
