Dr Laura Antona

This course is compulsory on the BA in Geography. This course is not available as an outside option nor to General Course students.

The course aims to prepare second-year students to undertake field research, focusing specifically on qualitative methods. It is linked to the BA Geography field course that takes place at the end of WT, and offers key preparation for third-year Independent Research Projects (IRP) that BA Geography students must conduct after this course.

Attendance and active participation is crucial for appropriate preparation for the field trip.

The course examines methodologies in field-based geographical research and evaluates their application to different kinds of research problems. It considers the choice of methods which may be used in the student’s own IRP, and how to plan research. It enables students to acquire familiarity with, and practice of, contemporary qualitative research techniques and to examine different ways of, and gain experience in, presenting research results. A further aim of the course is to enable students to evaluate critically the methodological validity of qualitative geographical research as distinct from quantitative approaches.

The course covers the following qualitative approaches to social science methodologies:

(i) techniques for qualitative data analysis including structured and unstructured interviewing, participant observation, and transecting, including ethics when conducting fieldwork;

(ii) application of qualitative research techniques in the field; and

(iii) techniques for designing, carrying out, and presenting field research, including both the course's field report and the thrid-year IRP.

Topics covered:

1. Ethics, planning & qualitative methods in independent geography research projects

2. Observation & ethnography in human geography

3. Interviews & focus groups as qualitative methods

4. Transecting in field research

5. Field journals

6. Field-course location: History & context

7. Field-course location: Topics in the field A

8. Field-course location: Topics in the field B

9. Field-course location: Topics in the field C

In the Department of Geography and Environment, teaching will be delivered through a combination of classes/seminars, pre-recorded lectures, live online lectures, in-person lectures and other supplementary interactive live activities.

Field-course: The course includes a one week-long field trip, normally in the final week of the Winter Term. In the past the field course has visited Portland, Oregon. The destination, duration, and content of the field trip in 2025 is subject to change.

Students should be aware that, although the costs of this course are subsidised by the Department, they will be expected to make a substantial financial contribution themselves. There are bursaries available from the Department for students who can document financial need.

An alternative field exercise will be undertaken by students who are unable to participate in the above one-week residential field-course.

Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6.

Short exercises conducted in preparation for class sessions and the field trip throughout the Winter Term.

• Chilson, P. and Mulcahy, J.B. (2017) Writing abroad: A guide for travelers. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

• Becker, H. S. (1998) Tricks of the trade: How to think about your research while you’re doing it. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

• Becker, H. S. (2007) Writing for social scientists: How to start and finish your thesis, book, or article (2nd edition). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

• Cloke, P. et al (2004) Practising human geographies. London: Sage.

• Esterberg, K.G. (2002) Qualitative Methods in Social Research. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

• Flowerdew, R. and Martin, D. (eds.) (2005) Methods in human geography: A guide for students doing a research project (2nd edition). Harlow: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

• Hain, I. (2010) Qualitative research methods in human geography (3rd edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Hennink, M. et al (2011) Qualitative research methods. London: Sage.

• Jones, J., Quinn, S. and Brown, H. (2011) Writing for sociology (2nd edition). Berkeley: Department of Sociology, University of California at Berkeley.

• Luker, K. (2008) Salsa dancing into the social sciences: Research in an age of info-glut. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

• Parsons, T. and Knight, P. (1995): How to do your dissertation in geography and related disciplines. London: Chapman & Hall.

Project (80%) in the ST.
Exercise (20%) in the WT.