121-496 Geography Research Project

Credit Points:

Coordinator:

Prerequisite/s:

Corequisite/s:

Objectives:

On completion of Geography Honours students should:

• have an understanding of the nature of science (including geography);

• have an understanding of major conceptual debates in contemporary human and physical geography, and their implications for research methodology;

• be aware of selected philosophical traditions in the discipline, and their theoretical and empirical manifestation in contemporary research in geography;

• be familiar with the techniques and concepts involved in the preparation of a review of the literature relating to particular research topics in geography;

• be able to select a research question and to design a program using the most appropriate techniques to gather the information on which an answer to the question can be developed;

• be able to analyse data and reach sensible conclusions;

• be capable of presenting these results in written and oral form so that they are comprehensible to persons who are not experts in the field.

Content:

Subject 121-496 comprises:

• an original, supervised research project.

The subject involves original research on a problem selected in consultation with a supervisor and the Head of the Department. Research work should continue throughout the fourth year, involving regular meetings with the supervisor. The statement of research problem must be submitted by the beginning of May, at the same time as the literature review (see below). The first draft of the report is due by the beginning of September. The candidate will then revise the draft according to the supervisor's advice and submit the finished report by the end of second semester.

Assessment:

• submission of a statement of research problem by the beginning of May;

• regular meetings with the supervisor.

• A research report of up to 12,000 words (50% of the total mark for Honours as a whole).