GY452 Half Unit
Urban Research Methods
This information is for the 2019/20 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Hyun Shin S601F
Additional teacher(s): Professor Sylvia Chant; Professor Gareth Jones; Dr Neil Lee; Professor Claire Mercer; Dr Romola Sanyal; Dr Austin Zeiderman, Dr Mara Nogueira
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Urban Policy (LSE 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 (LSE and Sciences Po) for those students who choose the MSc in Urbanisation and Development track for their Year 2 studies.
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
12 hours of lectures and 12 hours of seminars in the LT. 6 hours of workshops in the ST.
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) in the LT.
Presentation (20%) and research proposal (20%) in the ST.
Student performance results
(2015/16 - 2017/18 combined)
| Classification | % of students |
|---|---|
| Distinction | 41.5 |
| Merit | 45.3 |
| Pass | 13.2 |
| Fail | 0 |
Key facts
Department: Geography & Environment
Total students 2018/19: 22
Average class size 2018/19: 24
Controlled access 2018/19: No
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Leadership
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
